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Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Live tracking changes everything. Real-time depreciation tools now pull U.S. resale prices daily and model how brands lose value—so you can spot your sell window before the slide.
- iPhone retention is weakening. The iPhone 16 dropped 35.4% by month five versus 24.7% for the iPhone 13 at the same mark. Post–iPhone 17, curves are sharper.
- Samsung is catching up. Galaxy S‑series five-month depreciation improved from 51.9% (S22) to 46.6% (S25), and projections show Samsung could overtake Apple on resale value by mid‑2026.
- Timing beats condition. A −3% weekly slide for two weeks is your red flag—lock a quote before a bigger drop hits.
- Black Friday to early December is prime. This window offers strong demand and promo spikes before year-end dips.
Why a 2025 Depreciation Tracker Matters Now
You want top dollar for your phone. The 2025 depreciation tracker is how you get it. Right now, U.S. resale prices are moving fast—iPhone values are softening post–iPhone 17, Samsung is holding stronger, and Pixel is sneaking up. This guide shows how to read live drops, pick your sell window, and lock a great payout, step by step.
First, the big picture. The U.S. market is heavy on two brands—Apple and Samsung make up about 75% of all smartphone sales here. That scale pushes trade-in pricing across the country. With projected U.S. smartphone sales topping $105 billion in 2025, the second-hand market is booming too. When prices move, they move for millions of us.
And this year, we got better tools. New real-time depreciation calculators pull live prices from top U.S. trade-in and resale channels. They model how brands lose value over time and when to sell for the most cash. Trade-press coverage backs this up: these trackers predict future value and even show brand-by-brand curves stretching back to 2017.
Here’s the twist in late 2025: the gap is closing. Apple used to run away with resale value. Now, the trend lines show iPhone depreciation getting worse year over year, while Samsung is improving. Pixel is slowly rising too. A broad model comparison finds iPhone 16 was down 35.4% by month five, up from 24.7% for iPhone 13 at the same mark. At nine months, iPhone 16 was down 34.7%, versus 25.2% for iPhone 12. Meanwhile, Samsung’s S‑series improved from 51.9% depreciation at five months for S22 to 46.6% for S25. The same study projects Samsung could beat Apple on retained value by mid-2026 if these lines hold.
That’s why a smartphone depreciation 2025 plan matters. The window you choose this season can mean an extra hundred—or more.
How to Use Real-Time Depreciation Tools (A Hands-On Workflow)
Let’s build a simple, repeatable system. This is your phone resale value tracker 2025 routine.
Build your baseline today. Look up your exact model, storage, and condition in a live, U.S.-focused depreciation calculator. You’ll see current averages, plus the curve after launch. Start with the big aggregation table to map “smartphone value loss by model 2025”. Want a second estimate? Use a simple depreciation calculator 2025 to see value by age and condition.
Set alerts and thresholds. Weekly phone depreciation alerts help you act fast. Track your model for two simple triggers: watch at a −2% dip over 7–14 days, and sell at a −5% dip over 7–14 days. For momentum, compare the five-month and nine-month snapshots for your model year. If the slope is worsening week to week, you’re entering a sell-now zone.
Lock before shocks. Prices can slip when carriers push big promos, when new colors or storage options appear, or when stores clear year-end inventory. If you see real-time phone depreciation data turn from flat to a steady −3% week-over-week slide, lock a quote. Don’t wait for the bottom.
Optimize your device presentation. Back up your data. Sign out of all accounts, including iCloud and Google. Turn off Find My iPhone. Factory reset. Make sure the phone is carrier-unlocked, or note the carrier clearly. Document battery health and any issues. Photograph in bright, even light. Include the box and cable if you have them—small extras can nudge offers up.
Brand-by-Brand Sell-Window Playbook (Late 2025 Outlook)
iPhone (Post–iPhone 17 Launch Resale Value)
The iPhone resale story has shifted. After launch, iPhones used to hold a plateau for a while. In 2025, the curve slides sooner. Data comparing model years shows depreciation rising. Example: iPhone 16 down 35.4% at five months versus 24.7% for iPhone 13. At nine months, iPhone 16 at 34.7% versus iPhone 12 at 25.2%. This points to softer prices post–iPhone 17 unless your model is mint and high storage.
Pricing ranges tell the same story. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was typically $400–$650 by mid‑2025 depending on condition, with a 20–30% drop when the next model landed.
Tactics for iPhone sellers: Historically, the best iPhone resale window is within 2–6 weeks after the new model hits. If you missed that window, Black Friday/Cyber Monday can give a last bump before December. Watch your weekly line—if you see a −3% dip two weeks in a row, act now rather than chasing the curve. Condition swings are big. Mint vs poor smartphone depreciation can be 20–40% apart for late-model iPhones. Fix small cosmetics if low cost. Be honest about deeper issues.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung depreciation 2025 is a good story, especially for AI-era flagships. The five-month dip improved from 51.9% (S22) to 46.6% (S25). Annual depreciation is easing by roughly 1.77 percentage points. In contrast, Apple’s has been getting worse by about 3.57 points per year. Projections even point to Samsung topping Apple by mid‑2026 if the lines continue.
Foldables are steadier than before. Newer Galaxy Foldables are depreciating slower than earlier generations by about 2.4 points—helpful if you’re holding a recent foldable through the holidays.
Tactics for Samsung sellers: If your curve is flat through early November, consider holding to Black Friday week. Watch for “holiday phone trade-in offers 2025.” Foldables sometimes hold during Q4 but can dip mid‑January when upgrade waves clear. If you get a promo spike, take it. Don’t forget the nine-month curve check—if the slope steepens in December, lock before the New Year dip.
Google Pixel
Pixel is gaining ground. The Pixel 9 shows better retention, trimming value loss by about 2.6 points versus the previous model. Google’s AI focus is helping, even if overall values still trail Apple and Samsung.
Tactics for Pixel sellers: Watch for short Google Store bundles and carrier promos—these can pull down used prices quickly. If your phone is mint, listing before holiday bundles stack is safer. If promos are light, you might get a small pre-holiday lift. Move fast if alerts go negative two weeks in a row.
Key Insights on Depreciation Rates and Value Retention (What the Data Says)
iPhones still lead on average retained value—but the trend is weakening. Model-to-model, depreciation is getting worse at five and nine months. Forecasts suggest Apple could lose about 46.1% by 2027 if the trend holds.
Samsung’s curve is getting better each generation. S‑series five-month depreciation improved from 51.9% (S22) to 46.6% (S25). Projection: about 43.1% by 2027. That is a big shift for Android flagship resale.
Pixel is trending up—slowly but clearly—thanks to AI features and better flagship chops. Condition matters more than ever. “Good” vs “poor” can be the whole deal. Phones in poor or faulty state can be worth less than half of a good-condition phone of the same model.
Older models are now fully modeled too. New trackers map devices back to 2017, a handy view for second-wave sellers. Budget brands fall faster, while flagships slide slower. Outside the U.S. focus, Infinix ranks among the fastest-depreciating brands in 2025—useful trivia, but less relevant for mainstream U.S. trade-ins.
Timing Your Sale for Maximum Cash
Here’s the timing play that wins most often in the U.S. resale market: Sell before or within 6–9 months of the next flagship launch. Once the new model hits, depreciation accelerates. The curve is sharper than it used to be, especially for iPhone.
Peak resale periods usually land just before new launches. For Apple and Samsung, late summer can be a sweet spot (think August for fall events). Use calculators that track daily dips and condition grades—that’s how you spot an optimal “sell window” for your exact phone and storage. You can also try a quick estimate tool.
If your phone is older, watch for trade-in incentives. U.S. retailers often spike offers ahead of next-gen launches. Those short promos can offset normal depreciation slides.
A Practical 60-Day Action Calendar (Nov–Jan 2025/26)
Week of Nov 11–17: Baseline your model. Note average price by storage and condition. Set alerts for −2% (watch) and −5% (sell) over 7–14 days. Prep your phone: backup, sign out, reset, verify unlock, check battery, clean and photograph. Get early quotes to hold pricing—locking before the rush can save you from a sudden dip.
Week of Nov 18–24: Track daily. If your model is sliding −3% week over week, consider listing now. If your model is steady or rising, hold for Black Friday. This is your Black Friday smartphone sell window.
Week of Nov 25–Dec 1 (Black Friday/Cyber Monday): Compare phone trade-in prices 2025 across a few reputable channels. Use your saved baseline to spot real spikes versus noise. If a promo bump hits for your model—or if your weekly trend breaks past −3%—lock a sale. Ship fast. Carriers and buyers get swamped this week. Speed matters.
Dec 2–10: Holiday demand can keep prices up. But late iPhone models may soften as carrier promos end. If your model holds flat and your alerts are quiet, ride the week. If you see a new −5% alert in seven days, cut bait and sell.
Dec 11–20: If you haven’t sold, aim to close now. Prices often dip into year-end clearance mode. Foldables that held flat may still get good offers. Pixels may see small swings around Google promos.
Dec 21–Jan 1: Expect a post-holiday dip. If you’re still holding and your curve turns down, it can be smarter to lock before New Year’s instead of waiting for “maybe” later.
Jan 2–Jan 5: Some Android models see a mid/late January lift as promo dust settles. iPhone curves don’t always bounce back post-holiday. Watch your alerts and decide fast.
“Mini case notes: iPhone 16/17—small scratches, battery warnings, or carrier locks can hit your price hard. Mint vs poor smartphone depreciation can diverge 20–40% for the same model. Honest condition pays. Galaxy S25—if your curve is flat through late November, holding into Black Friday can be smart. Foldables: pre-holiday is often safer if you spot renewed discounting. Pixel 9+—Google bundles can flood the market for a week or two. If you see those start, list early.”
Prep and Execution Checklist (Do This Before You Sell)
- Turn off Find My iPhone and remove your iCloud account. On Android, remove your Google account.
- Factory reset. Confirm your device is fully wiped.
- Check unlock status. If locked, note the carrier clearly. If paid off, request an unlock from your carrier.
- Document battery health and any faults. Photograph front, back, sides, ports, and the IMEI screen.
- Include the original box and cable if you have them.
Be honest about flaws—it avoids regrades and delays. Keep proof of purchase if available. Clear any financing flags before you ship.
“Deal-breaker for resale: activation locks. Remove them before you list. This one move turns a no into a yes and saves days of back-and-forth.”
Tools You Can Trust for Tracking
SellCell Smartphone Depreciation Calculator: Live data tables, brand-by-brand curves, and projections to help you read real-time phone depreciation data for hundreds of models.
Coverage and context on how these predictive tools work, and how far back they track (to 2017): MacTech and AppleWorld Today roundups.
GizmoPros Phone Depreciation Calculator: A quick way to see model, age, storage, and condition impact in simple U.S. terms.
How GizmoGrind Turns Insights into Payouts
We built our trade-in flow to match the way you use a 2025 depreciation tracker. Fast online quotes. Simple questions. Transparent pricing. You get a clear number without guesswork.
We work with iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watch, and more—model- and carrier‑agnostic, with clear condition grading. We help you hit the best time to sell smartphone 2025 by sharing simple price-tracking signals and monthly depreciation insights you can use.
Eco-friendly reuse is our default. If a device isn’t resale-ready, we route it to responsible recycling.
Important note: We do not accept iCloud-locked, blacklisted, lost/stolen, or water-damaged devices. Please remove activation locks and accounts before you ship. It keeps your sale fast and smooth.
A Reporter’s Wrap-Up: What the 2025 Data Actually Means
Apple still floats near the top on resale value. But the trend is softening. Five- and nine-month marks are worse than a few years ago, and projections show further slide by 2027.
Samsung is on the rise. S‑series depreciation is improving each year, and foldables are no longer “fall fast” devices. The 2026 crossover with Apple is now a real possibility.
Pixel is the quiet climber. AI is helping retention. It still trails the other two, but not by as much as before.
The winning move in late 2025: watch weekly changes, sell into strength, and avoid a −3% slide becoming a −10% month. Black Friday and early December are key moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single best signal that it’s time to sell?
A steady −3% or worse week-over-week dip for two weeks. Lock a quote before a bigger slide.
Is Black Friday always the best week to sell?
Not always, but it’s often great. If your alerts are flat or rising into Black Friday, list early in the week. If you’re already dipping, lock anytime that week to secure a holiday buyer.
Do scratches or battery health matter that much?
Yes. Condition grading is a big price driver. “Good” can get double what “poor” does for the same model.
Where can I see smartphone depreciation 2025 by brand and model?
Start with the SellCell depreciation tracker for live tables and projections. You can also run a quick estimate on GizmoPros.
Are older phones worth selling?
Often, yes. Trackers now model back to 2017. Flagship lines hold up better than budget phones, but timing and condition still rule.
Your 2025 smartphone sell guide, in one line: use a 2025 depreciation tracker, watch for a −3% weekly slide, and sell into the Black Friday-to-early-December window if your model is trending flat to positive. Do the prep. Lock a clean quote. And turn those insights into a payout with a smooth, secure trade-in.
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