Decluttr, a buyback site, has compiled a chart that shows how fast are our high-end smartphones depreciating after you buy them brand new at full price. Surprise, surprise, it's a lot, as you can see in the graphic above. While it's a tech buyback service, meaning that you have to add the company's margin to the numbers mentioned, you can still expect a hefty chunk of the price you paid to go the way of the dodo in the first few months after the respective handset is released.
The statistics showed that the S8, which launched at $720 MSRP, just like the S9, could be bought back for 46% of that in the first month after launch, and that's when the largest value loss usually occurs, with subsequent months showing only 1-2% depreciation on average. Decluttr found out that iPhones hold their ground a bit better overall, compared to Androids, but it's still a carnage in Apple's land, too. The iPhone 8 depreciated by 49% in the first month after launch, while the X made do with "just" 41%.
Buyback services like Decluttr are not the best yardsticks when it comes to remaining value, as you can get much more money from your used handset on Craigslist or eBay (on average $380 for the S8 compared to $290 from Decluttr currently), yet they are still a good gauge for overall comparison, and save you the hassles of dealing with shady buyers.
The moral of the story? If you wait just a month after the launch of a high-end handset, and buy it in excellent condition afterwards, the largest chunk of its depreciation will be left for the early adopter.
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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