Apple’s iPhone 17 is also boosting the second-user markets
The second hand iPhone market appears to be entering one of its most dynamic periods with consumers using their devices for longer, being more prepared to purchased second hand, even as many choose to upgrade to Apple’s incredibly successful iPhone 17 range.
Data from B-Stock and ten-weeks of SellCell depreciation trends show this is a market in which flagship Pro models continue to retain value well, while the iPhone Air seems to have few fans.
Some highlights taken from the data include:
Boom in second-user iPhones
We’re holding onto iPhones for longer than ever, about four years. This has a few impacts on the second user markets: Because we use them for longer demand for more recent models remain high while supply stays low, which means pricing remains relatively high. Despite this, second-hand iPhones are really popular, and around a seventh of all iPhones sold are used/refurb devices.
Which iPhones are selling best in 2nd user markets?
It is also interesting that the top traded-in used device is the iPhone 14, closely followed by the iPhone 14, while all the recent Pro Max models are in demand in business markets. iPhone 12 and 13 pricing remains surprisingly resilient, with “uprising and popularity still holding strong”.
Most used iPhones still remain in the U.S. secondary ecosystem, with the remainder moving to Hong Kong and growth regions such as India. It is also interesting to note that where they are available, iPhone 17 models retain most of their value, with very little depreciation at this stage of the cycle.
Value Retention After 10 Weeks: iPhone 17 vs. Previous Generations
- iPhone 17 range: 34.6% average depreciation.
- iPhone 16 range: 39.0% depreciation.
- iPhone 15 range: 31.9% depreciation.
- iPhone 14 range: 36.6% depreciation.
If there’s a negative chime to the celebration it is that the iPhone Air has seem a 44.3% depreciation in second user markets, which strongly supports speculation that the model hasn’t sold particularly well. Conversely, Pro Max models once again form the value-retention anchor of Apple’s lineup, consistent with previous trends.
What to think about these stats
Apple’s high-end devices remain untouchable, dominating both sales and second user sales charts – they also hang onto their value for much longer. Demand for Pro and Pro Max devices is robust in both the primary and secondary markets. These models dominate resale charts (current and historical) and consistently deliver the lowest depreciation. At the high-end, Apple is untouchable, though the data seems to show a stronger than average iPhone 17 return rate, which suggests some early purchasers hoped for more.
The data also shows the extent to which second-user sales contribute to the overall ecosystem, with one in seven devices sold being second hand. It means the market is now integral to Apple’s device lifecycle and carrier economics.
Up next?
What comes next, of course, is to see if iPhone Air demand improves and if consumers will continue to stretch out their use of their devices. Can a five-year iPhone upgrade pattern be far away? And what impact will anticipated price increases across the wider smartphone industry have on Apple’s precious second-user market?
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