iPhones and Android phones now have a lot in common, particularly since embraced customization in a big way. But one big area where they still differ is in resale values – with 's phones continuing to be better long-term investments than their Android equivalents, according to a new report. A new survey from (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners) asked new phone buyers what they did with their previous phones.
The standout stat was that 41% of iPhone owners turned their old handset into money by either selling it or trading it in, compared to only 17% of Android phone owners doing the same. This stat is likely influenced, as CIRP notes, by the fact that iPhone owners typically have more invested in their pricier phones, on average – so are therefore more likely to sell them on. But revealed that retired iPhones are also typically older than retired Android phones.
And other reports back up the conclusion that iPhones do typically hold their value better than their rivals. For example, 2024 data from the resale aggregator recently revealed that the iPhone 15 series had been depreciating at a much slower rate than rival 2023 flagships from the likes of , , and OnePlus. One notable example was that the iPhone 15 had an average price depreciation of 27.
4% during its first three months, compared to a 43.5% drop for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series in its first few months. Of course, not all iPhones are immune to price drops.
A separate report in March revealed that the iPhone .