The Time To Sell Your Old iPhone Would Be Today

Consumer electronics trading platform NextWorth has come up with interesting statistics on just how much used iPhone value fluctuates around the launch of a new model.
“There is a predictable 15-20 percent value decline seen across all older iPhone models in the six-week period surrounding the new iPhone launch,” according to Jeff Trachsel, NextWorth’s CMO. “No one knows when the next iPhone will be announced, but the best way to get the most for your old iPhone is to lock in quotes now.”

Average iPhone selling price declines by 10-15%
before new model is announced

What is interesting about the used iPhone selling price statistics compiled by NextWorth is that price declines kick in well before the new iPhone is announced. The sharp drop in the iPhone 4S price took place well before the iPhone 5 was announced. After the iPhone 5 was announced and even after it became available, the 4S price actually stabilized. This is somewhat counterintuitive. It looks like consumers rush to sell their old models 2-4 weeks before a new iPhone debuts, possibly in a bid to beat the crowd.

It’s interesting that last autumn’s price decline of the iPhone 4S was far more moderate than the declines of the two older models. Now that we may get a budget iPhone announcement in September or October, we could witness an even steeper plunge of the resale value of older iPhones. This is one of the most interesting issues surrounding the budget iPhone arrival – how will it impact the.


Data source: Forbes (By Tero Kuittinen)