Which smartphones depreciate the slowest

Popular American retailer SellCell, specializing in the resale of used equipment, published a report that tracks the decline in the cost of top models in the first months after the release.

Specifically, it compares the iPhone 13 series (including mini, Pro, and Pro Max versions) with the Google Pixel 6 (Pro) and Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra. The authors took into account the average estimated value of such smartphones when handing over a trade-in, divided into condition: “good” or “like new”.

The table clearly demonstrates that not all brands age equally well. So, among Samsung owners, there will be minimal losses when reselling the 256 GB Galaxy S22 - “only” 39.9% in new condition. But both versions of S22 + and S22 Ultra 1 TB cheaper by more than half. Of the new products, Google best keeps the price of the Pixel 6 at 128 GB, and the leader in depreciation is the Pixel 6 Pro at 256 GB.

Among the flagships of Apple, the iPhone 13 mini depreciates the fastest in the basic configuration with 128 GB of memory: in two month, it loses 29.2% in price if it remains in perfect condition, or 31.2% if the user did not blow it off motes. The base iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, holds up the best, losing only 3.8% or 4.7% of value depending on condition.

Here is how much of their price, on average, smartphones of all three lines lose in “like new” condition in a month and two, respectively:

• iPhone 13 - 18.7% and 16.4%;
• Galaxy S22 - 46.8% and 46.8%;
• Pixel 6 - 43.1% and 41.5%.

This data reflects an interesting feature: lowering the price in the first month after the release does not necessarily mean that the smartphone will continue to lose in price further. On the contrary, in many cases the loss for the seller is reduced if the resale is not rushed.