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Resale value of iPhone 4S

wastedminutes

wastedminutes

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 9, 2010
17
0
Cumbria, England
I got an iPhone 4S on a 2 year contract, but 2 weeks in I got mugged and it got stolen :(

I am eligible for an upgrade in March 2013, which I assume by then will be the new model.

I used my iPhone for a lot of things, and for my studies, and am a little bit lost without its features. I wonder if it is worth buying an iPhone 4S outright now and selling it on eBay when I'm eligible for an upgrade.

How much can I expect to lose on the resale value of the iPhone 4S by March next year?
 
The resale value on iPhone's are great. Hell, the iPhone 2G in good condition sell at around $120-150 and that phone is freaking 5 years old?

I sold my 3GS I had sitting around this past December on eBay for about $300.
 
In March of 2013, in excellent condition I would say $200-250 range? Figure a new one will have come out in the fall and a newer one will be right around the corner. That is exactly in the middle of the next launch cycle.

Also depends on size. My figure is after eBay and PayPal fees, so add another 25-50ish.
 
RotaryP7 said:
The resale value on iPhone's are great. Hell, the iPhone 2G in good condition sell at around $120-150 and that phone is freaking 5 years old?

I sold my 3GS I had sitting around this past December on eBay for about $300.
Click to expand...

Is the iPhone 2g even operable anymore... i had a 3G laying around and i think it had 4.0 software, or was it 5.0 software.. i dont remember, but it was incredibly laggy and impossible to use, the 2g i imagine will be 10 times worse. How can anyone pay $100 for an inoperable phone
 
3.1.3 is the end of the line update for the original iPhone. I have one and it works surprisingly well.
No lag really, whatsoever.

Of course it's store bought frozen pizza compared to the iPhone4S.
 
OP, with you being from England, I don't know if you have Craigslist or something like it over there. If you do, try the following as I would here in the US if I were in your situation.

I would get a used 16gb 4S on Craigslist right now for $450 max, maybe even as low as $400-$425. I would buy that, and then you should still be able to get at least $300 next March.

That is the play for you. Buy used, not a new one.
 
This thread has been quite useful. I'm actually thinking about selling my black iPhone 4S and buy a white one instead, it just looks so much nicer!
 
Resale value could go up much more if you have the carrier unlock it i.e. Verizon for global use.
 
Bunch if donkeys

Why is it nobody nither reads, nor answers questions that are actually asked?

Anywho, Craigs list, 16gb Att is more like $450-500, CDMA are cheaper by $50 ... in the US

Guess, eBay is an option in uk
 
Unlocked iPhones have even more resale value:D, in one year from now it will still sell 600$+
 
RotaryP7 said:
The resale value on iPhone's are great. Hell, the iPhone 2G in good condition sell at around $120-150 and that phone is freaking 5 years old?

I sold my 3GS I had sitting around this past December on eBay for about $300.
Click to expand...

You got lucky or you sold it overseas. 3GS was going for like $150 then in the states, I know because I was looking for one and that was the going range.

Anyways OP, basically you will lose out $150 or so, not bad. Buy it for $425 used now, sell it for $275 used mint condition in March.
 
ApplesAndOrangs said:
You got lucky or you sold it overseas. 3GS was going for like $150 then in the states, I know because I was looking for one and that was the going range.

Anyways OP, basically you will lose out $150 or so, not bad. Buy it for $425 used now, sell it for $275 used mint condition in March.
Click to expand...

Check out eBay my friend. The average used 3GS goes for about $200 or more. Used. My 3GS was in mint condition.

No way the 4S gets sold at $275 next March.

The iPhone 4 goes at around $300-400 used on eBay as we speak. And if it's less than 300, read the fine print.

Now craigslist is a different story..
 
Most iPhone 4 16gb used go for $300 or less afaik on ebay/craigs and considering how similar 4S is to 4, I would predict similar pricing for 4S next march (280-320 range for 16gb)
 
RotaryP7 said:
Check out eBay my friend. The average used 3GS goes for about $200 or more. Used. My 3GS was in mint condition.

No way the 4S gets sold at $275 next March.

The iPhone 4 goes at around $300-400 used on eBay as we speak. And if it's less than 300, read the fine print.

Now craigslist is a different story..
Click to expand...

Exactly. You can still fetch $350 locally for a locked iPhone 4.

The general rule of thumb is that a smartphone is worth about $150 less than retail value as soon as it's opened. At least where I live. :) So combine that with wear/tear as well as the passing of time. You could probably fetch $400 for the 4S at the time of your upgrade. And since you're buying one outright, get it factory unlocked and it will be very desirable when it's time to resell!
 
Last edited:
RotaryP7 said:
Check out eBay my friend. The average used 3GS goes for about $200 or more. Used. My 3GS was in mint condition.

No way the 4S gets sold at $275 next March.

The iPhone 4 goes at around $300-400 used on eBay as we speak. And if it's less than 300, read the fine print.

Now craigslist is a different story..
Click to expand...

Average used 3gs on ebay goes for around $150.
Look at the graph:
http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Apple-iPhon...01&_pcategid=9355&_from=R40&_dmpt=Cell_Phones

iPhone 4 was a big leap and is a great phone. I don't expect the 4s to hold its value as well as the 4 did.
 
iPhone 4 was a big leap and is a great phone. I don't expect the 4s to hold its value as well as the 4 did.
Click to expand...

Sure it will. The S version of the iPhone is always going to be a better device than its predecessor. Plus, with the dual core precessor, it is future proofed for later updates when the 4 is left behind.
 
ApplesAndOrangs said:
Average used 3gs on ebay goes for around $150.
Look at the graph:
http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Apple-iPhon...01&_pcategid=9355&_from=R40&_dmpt=Cell_Phones

iPhone 4 was a big leap and is a great phone. I don't expect the 4s to hold its value as well as the 4 did.
Click to expand...

It depends on your carrier, you can't unlock iphone4 with iOS5 so unlocked ones hold the price pretty strong

Different story with 4s, you can unlock all AT&T iPhone4 with geveys and Spring unlocks it on request
 
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