iPhone Air Sees Steep Drop in Resale Value
The resale value of the iPhone Air has plummeted dramatically within just ten weeks of its launch, according to recent data.
Key Findings
A study by SellCell, which analyzed real‑time trade‑in prices from more than 40 U.S. buyback companies, reveals that the iPhone Air has experienced an average depreciation of 44.3%. Some configurations have lost nearly half their value, with depreciation rates ranging from 40.3% to 47.7%. This makes the iPhone Air the weakest‑performing iPhone model in terms of resale value since the iPhone 14 Plus and certain iPhone 13 mini configurations in 2022.
Comparison with Other Models
In contrast, the iPhone 17 series has shown a more modest average depreciation of 34.6%, outperforming the iPhone 16’s 39% depreciation at the same point last year. The iPhone 15 series continues to hold its value better than most, with an average depreciation of 31.9%. The iPhone 14 series saw a depreciation of 36.6% over the same period.
The worst performer in the dataset is the 1TB iPhone Air model. Meanwhile, Pro models like the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have fared better, with depreciation rates below 40%, indicating sustained demand in the secondary market. The standard iPhone 17 models have depreciated between 32.9% and 40.8%, aligning with the performance of recent non‑Pro models.
Market Implications
The iPhone Air’s depreciation trend is unusual compared to other iPhone models, which typically stabilize in value after ten weeks. This continued decline suggests uncertainty in the secondary market for the iPhone Air.
The steep drop in resale value for the iPhone Air highlights a significant disparity in the secondary market performance of Apple’s latest iPhone models.
