Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Doesn’t really matter how fast a phone depreciates if you keep it 4 years like you should. They’re all worth virtually nothing after 4 years.
What? You're supposed to keep your phone for only 4 year? I've been doing it wrong, since I buy 4 year old phones and use it until it finally falls apart. I'm still using a S7 (main phone, 'cause it's rooted and firewalled) and an iPhone 7 Plus* for iOS apps.

Android phone losing value quickly is good news for old phone fans like me. I might be getting an S22 next year, depending upon which custom ROM I can install.?

*Still on iOS 13.? Quit nagging me to upgrade dagnabbit.? If y'all serious about security, gimme a firewall.?
 
It'll be interesting to see if there's any improvement in values being held now Samsung has announced an enhanced update policy for phones right across its range. Whatever happens, Samsung phones will never come close to holding value like the ultra-premium iPhones do.
 
Trade in values, at least in my country, tend to correlates with the demand of such models on the 2nd hand market. Used iPhones are usually in high demand. High end Android phones tend to suffer as they are usually not in high demand. In fact, some mid/low range models actually fares much better when they are in high demand.

I sometimes see low/mid-end Xiaomi phones getting quite good trade-in values, simply because they're in high demand.
 
I am sure no-one is surprised by this.

However, what I don't see many people taking into account with the discrepancy is the original purchase price. There aren't a lot of people that buy Samsung Galaxy devices at full price. Often a long way from it. If I'm buying it new at a price that's initially heavily discounted my value loss isn't in the 40-50% range.

Conversely, when I'm replacing my iPhones I'm typically buying at or near full retail. Yes an iPhone holds is value better, but it also cost me more in the first place given the lack/non-existence of discounting. It is better value at the time of replacement… well, often no.

So the thing for me to look at will always be the replacement spread rather than what value loss, or not, a phone may have during the months I'm not going to sell it in. If you're an annual replacer, which I'm not on either side, the mechanics of that may well differ. With a 3-year cycle I don't see a lot of difference on either side while I stick to the premium end of things.
 
I wonder if this will change now that Samsung has agreed to security updates for four years?
 
Only die-hard Samsung fans (yes, they do exist) buy stuff at launch price, everyone else will just wait out until happy.

Of course those people kill any resale price, nobody is going to pay (for exemple) 80% list after 6 months when you can get the same stuff new at 75 or less % list.

I would say both Apple and Samsung ways are nice because they are very predictable, you just pick your favorite.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jakey rolling
If even only from a skimming the surface perspective, this is pretty interesting data. Quickly illustrates something many an IT department (and more specifically, corporations) fail to consider when preparing annual budgets: Apple is a more cost-efficient investment over time. From stability and up-time, there are many reasons why it’s not uncommon for a Mac to easily exceed a decade of dependable, real-world, professional, use. And this isn’t the 90s: where the price gap was larger. The price gap between Macs & PCs is so much tighter now.
 
Doesn’t really matter how fast a phone depreciates if you keep it 4 years like you should. They’re all worth virtually nothing after 4 years.
My iPhone X was worth $190 last time I checked (a few dollars lower now because of the recent adjustment by Apple).

I traded in my iPad 5 for $120 last month.

My Apple Watch 5 was $145 last I checked (again, a few dollars lower now).

That's not virtually nothing, but enough to influence upgrade decisions, since it could function as a significant discount to new purchases.

And I hear if you trade in with third parties you might get even more at times, but I don't bother doing that.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: fourthtunz
In my opinion Apple builds on features and services. Making the iPhone more integral to our day to day. On top of consistent updates for older devices.

Where as I feel Samsung crams whatever feature it can to its current device, as a selling point. Then forgets about previous devices.

It does make the iPhone feel stale, and like it lacks features every update. But it’s a dependable device.

Regardless I feel like the phone market, like the TV market, is getting harder and harder to justify an update.
 
I think this is probably quite likely for all high end Android Smartphones, while Samsung are now extending their support to 3 years, that's not how Android has typically been over the past decade or so,
Samsung support their phones for 5 years, 4 new OS versions + an aditional year of security updates. Plus thanks to Android's modularity their phones will continue to get software support from Google even after that 5 year period.
 
If even only from a skimming the surface perspective, this is pretty interesting data. Quickly illustrates something many an IT department (and more specifically, corporations) fail to consider when preparing annual budgets:

It depends. This data was comparing depreciation based just on MSRP which can be misleading. A more accurate assessment would be based on purchase price instead.

For example:

Product A has MSRP of $900 and sells for $900. It depreciates 15% from MSRP ($900 down to $765) and therefore the loss to the buyer is $135.

Product B has MSRP of $900 and sells for $600. It depreciates 45% from MSRP ($900 down to $495) and therefore the loss to the buyer is $105.

In the case, even though the depreciation percentage of product "B" was three times worse (45% versus 15%), it actually loss less in value to the buyer.
 
Samsung support their phones for 5 years, 4 new OS versions + an aditional year of security updates. Plus thanks to Android's modularity their phones will continue to get software support from Google even after that 5 year period.
Sorry, I meant OS updates, I think you're talking about security updates.

Google don't offer either to Samsung users.
 
Doesn’t really matter how fast a phone depreciates if you keep it 4 years like you should. They’re all worth virtually nothing after 4 years.
I think that will not be the case for the present iPhone 13 and future models. With better batteries, 5G, and improved cameras, iPhones have now achieved what everyone mostly wants, so even if you have iPhone 14, 15, 16, 17 coming, its not like your going to need a new phone if you want to hang onto yours especially when the iOS is upgradable for years. At this point with A15 processing, what is lacking as far as hardware performance?

Samsung's problem is their quality perception combined with being just another android 12 phone competing with many others like Oppo gunning for their customers with better servicing/feature sets.
 
It depends. This data was comparing depreciation based just on MSRP which can be misleading. A more accurate assessment would be based on purchase price instead.

For example:

Product A has MSRP of $900 and sells for $900. It depreciates 15% from MSRP ($900 down to $765) and therefore the loss to the buyer is $135.

Product B has MSRP of $900 and sells for $600. It depreciates 45% from MSRP ($900 down to $495) and therefore the loss to the buyer is $105.

In the case, even though the depreciation percentage of product "B" was three times worse (45% versus 15%), it actually loss less in value to the buyer.
Oof, that's a lot of math. But thanks for the breakdown! 😁
All I know is it somewhat validates the oft-murky value-over-time aspect that can trip up some whose only dat point is MSRP. Did my MBP cost more than an equivalent Dell? Some. But will that MBP perform as expected for longer, and with far less hassle, than that Dell? Not even close.
 
These types of articles are so useless.

Consumers don’t care about ‘how fast a smart phone depreciates’, being the majority of them do not upgrade every year. You’re not buying a phone for its value long-term, you’re buying the platform that you enjoy using.
 
Boy if my Intel Macs had those kinda resale values I would sell and buy Apple silicon in a heartbeat. but they dont

People are keeping most of the late cell phones that have 5G much longer anyway.

A new phone is generally not discounted or subsidized anymore.

And you sign your life away on a payment plan for 2 years at least.
 
Some of the discussion is weird. Like people are trying to defend Samsung and purposefully being obtuse.

A lot of people sell their phones and get a new one. It may be a year, for some it's two or three. It's trade in value should be taken in consideration. Just like with cars. You don't want to get $250 for a phone you just paid $1300 for the previous year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fourthtunz
These types of articles are so useless.

Consumers don’t care about ‘how fast a smart phone depreciates’, being the majority of them do not upgrade every year. You’re not buying a phone for its value long-term, you’re buying the platform that you enjoy using.
That last thought doesn't help Samsung one bit does it? If consumers like other Android 12 phones with similar features Samsung has lost sales and their product depreciates faster. Too bad they didn't make smartphone that used their own OS like Apple.
 
Some of the discussion is weird. Like people are trying to defend Samsung and purposefully being obtuse.

A lot of people sell their phones and get a new one. It may be a year, for some it's two or three. It's trade in value should be taken in consideration. Just like with cars. You don't want to get $250 for a phone you just paid $1300 for the previous year.

Well then to be fair, you would have to include Samsung's very generous trade in value when comparing. If I buy a S21 Ultra for $1,100 with "free" Galaxy Buds and a year later trade it for an S22 Ultra and get a $850 trade in credit then that would put my cost at about $20 a month. $5 a month if you count the $150 buds you get to keep. Not bad if you ask me.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.