Your phone starts losing value the day you unbox it. The only question is how fast.
Most people find out the hard way, at trade-in, when the number is far lower than they expected.
Phones Lose Value Fastest in Year One
The first twelve months are brutal. Most smartphones lose 40 to 50% of their value in the first year alone.
That means a $1,000 phone can be worth around $500 by the time its replacement lands. Wait a little longer and the drop keeps going, just more slowly.
iPhone or Android Changes Everything
Not all phones fall at the same speed. iPhones hold value far better than most Android phones, losing roughly 20 to 30% in year one, while the average Android flagship loses 40 to 50%.
Put simply, iPhones depreciate at about half the rate of comparable Android phones in the first year or two. Samsung's Galaxy S line is the strongest Android performer and the gap is closing, but Apple still leads on resale. Budget and foldable phones fall hardest of all.
Timing Is the Hidden Lever
Here is the part almost nobody plans around: launches move prices.
When a new model is announced, the older one drops fast. Apple's fall iPhone event resets prices across the whole market every year. Samsung's early-year Galaxy launch does the same to older Galaxy phones.
Sell the week before a big launch and you catch the higher price. Sell the week after and you eat the drop. Same phone, different money, decided entirely by timing.
Condition and Storage Matter More Than You Think
Two more levers most people ignore:
Condition. A cracked screen can cut resale value by 30 to 50%. A cheap repair before selling often pays for itself.
Storage. Higher-storage and Pro or Ultra models hold value best, because demand for them in the used market stays strong.
The Bottom Line
Your phone is a depreciating asset on a predictable curve. How much you lose depends on the model you bought, its condition, and the single week you choose to sell.
You do not have to guess at any of it. Predictye forecasts what your phone will be worth later, so you can pick the right moment instead of finding out too late.
Don't guess. Just Predictye.