Does Your Phone Lose Value When a New Model Launches?

Why a new launch changes buyer demand

Second-hand prices are set by what buyers will currently pay. When a new flagship launches, three things normally happen at once:

• The old flagship becomes 'last year's flagship' — the previous halo model moves down the product range
• Manufacturer pricing on remaining new stock often drops, anchoring buyer expectations
• A wave of unwanted trade-ins enters the market, briefly increasing supply

The combined effect is usually a step down in the second-hand asking price for the outgoing model. It's rarely a cliff, and it is rarely the same size across brands.

How brands behave differently

Apple

iPhones historically hold value better than Android flagships, and the year-old Pro tends to step down rather than collapse. Apple itself keeps selling certain older models, which can soften and sometimes deepen the second-hand drop.

Samsung

Galaxy S models often see a noticeable drop in the weeks around launch as new and trade-in stock floods in. Z Fold and Z Flip behave more sharply still — see why foldables depreciate faster.

Google Pixel

Pixels tend to depreciate faster overall than iPhones, with launch events accelerating an existing curve rather than starting a new one.

What 'depreciation' actually depends on

• Condition — an Excellent-graded device weathers a launch better than a Fair one. See condition grading explained
• Storage tier — larger-storage variants are scarcer and hold value disproportionately well; see why storage size affects value
• Battery health — buyers pay for battery they can trust; see why battery health affects value
• Range placement — flagships tend to drop a step at launch; mid-range phones move less because there's less prestige attached to being current
• Supply spikes — networks and big retailers running trade-in promotions briefly increase supply, regardless of demand

Decision table: sell before or after launch?

Risks of being without a phone

Selling weeks before your replacement arrives can save money — but it leaves you without 2FA codes, banking apps and the device most family and work contacts use. A short backup phone (an older Android, a friend's spare) often costs less stress than the gap itself.

What we don't claim

We don't publish a fixed percentage drop for every launch. Real depreciation depends on the model, the brand, the launch's reception and the wider second-hand market on the week we value your phone. Any guide figures we quote are based on what we'd genuinely pay that day — not on a forecast.

Common misconceptions

• "Every phone loses 20% the day a new model launches." — No universal figure exists. Some drop more, some barely move, some stay flat then drift down over months
• "Selling the day before launch always wins." — Sometimes. Often the realistic gain is small once you account for needing a phone in the meantime
• "Older phones aren't worth selling after a launch." — Two- and three-year-old phones in working condition still attract genuine offers

Key takeaways

• Launches push older flagships down a step — usually not off a cliff
• Flagships and foldables are more launch-sensitive than mid-range phones
• Condition, storage and battery health still matter more than timing
• Selling earlier captures more value if you have a realistic gap plan

Common questions