Resale value is full of noise. Trade-in quotes lowball you, marketplace asking prices run high on optimism, and brand reputation does not always match what devices actually sell for. This article cuts through that with the data points that matter: how much value used phones, laptops, tablets, and consoles actually retain, how depreciation moves over time, and the one number you should anchor every decision to.
Quick Answer
The single most reliable resale figure is the completed sale price, not the asking price. Asking prices reflect what sellers hope to get. Completed sales reflect what buyers actually pay. Across the market, iPhones and MacBooks lead value retention, Android phones and budget Windows laptops depreciate fastest, and most devices lose the biggest chunk of value in their first 12 months. To benchmark any specific model against real transactions, check live completed-sale data on Swappa.
Why Completed Sale Prices Are the Only Number That Matters
Before any table or percentage, internalize this: a price only means something once a buyer has agreed to pay it.
Asking prices reflect optimism. Scroll any marketplace and you will see the same model listed across a wide spread. The high end is sellers testing the ceiling. Many of those listings sit for weeks or quietly drop. Averaging asking prices tells you what people hope for, not what the market clears at.
Completed sales reflect reality. A sold price is a closed loop: a buyer saw the condition, the storage tier, the carrier status, and decided it was worth that amount. That is the signal. Trade-in quotes are also real numbers, but they are wholesale offers built to leave resale margin, so they sit well below peer-to-peer completed prices.
When you pull comps, filter them tightly. Match the same model, same storage tier, same condition grade, and same carrier-lock status. A 128GB carrier-locked phone in Good condition is a different market than a 512GB unlocked unit in Mint. Mixing them produces a meaningless average.
Read the Used Tech Resale Value: The Complete Pricing Guide for more context.
Swappa’s completed sale price data shows what specific models have actually transacted for, already organized by model and storage. That is the baseline every number below should be checked against.
The figures in the tables that follow are market estimates compiled from 2025 to 2026 industry resale reports. They are directional ranges, not guarantees, and they vary by model year, condition, and timing. Use them to understand the shape of the market, then confirm any specific device against live data.
Value Retention by Brand and Category
Different brands hold value at very different rates, and the gaps are wide enough to change a buying or selling decision. Here is what the market data shows.
Smartphones
Phones are the most-watched resale category, and the brand split is stark. Apple sets the ceiling, and Samsung has been closing the gap.
| Brand / line | Value retained, ~1 year | Value retained, ~2 years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone | ~60-70% | ~60-70% (varies by model) | Loses ~25-30% in year one, then slows |
| Samsung Galaxy S flagship | ~50-60% | ~45-55% | Gap with Apple has narrowed ~5 pts since 2022; titanium S Ultra strongest |
| Google Pixel Pro | Trails Apple | Improving | Software and camera reputation helping retention |
| Average Android | ~40-50% | Lower | Depreciates roughly 2x as fast as iPhone |
The headline: an average Android phone depreciates about twice as fast as an average iPhone. Across all models, first-year loss ranges from roughly 30% on the strongest holders to 80% on the weakest, depending on brand and model.
Explore which phone brands hold value best.
Browse current inventory at used iPhones and used phones on Swappa, or check the completed sale prices for your exact model.
Laptops
Laptops split along the same Apple-versus-everyone line, driven by Apple Silicon performance holding up across generations.
| Type | Value retained, ~1 year | Value retained, ~3 years | Annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook (Apple Silicon) | ~50-60% | ~40-60% | ~15-20% per year |
| Premium Windows ultrabook (Dell/HP/Lenovo) | Moderate | ~25-40% | Faster than Mac |
| Average Windows laptop | ~30-50% | Lower | ~30% per year |
Budget Windows machines lose the most. Premium business ultrabooks from Dell, HP, and Lenovo hold value far better than budget tiers because there is more durable demand and a higher starting price to decay from.
See used MacBooks and used laptops on Swappa.
Tablets
The tablet gap is the widest of any category. iPads hold value; most Android tablets do not.
| Type | Value retention | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad | High | “Ages gracefully” thanks to long software support |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab | Low | Some studies show ~75-84% loss over multi-year spans |
| Other Android tablets | Low | Small secondary-market buyer pool |
If resale value is a priority in a tablet purchase, an iPad is the safer bet by a wide margin. Browse used tablets on Swappa.
Gaming consoles
Consoles break the usual depreciation curve. When supply is constrained, they can hold value extremely well, sometimes near retail for years.
| Console | Resale behavior | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Very low depreciation | OLED models can sit near retail years out |
| PlayStation 5 | ~70-80% of retail in first ~2 years | Exclusive-title demand keeps prices firm |
| Xbox | Depreciates a bit faster | Game Pass reduces hardware-generation pressure |
One console-specific note for both sides of a transaction: a missing original controller can cut resale value meaningfully. Keep the box and accessories.
Browse used gaming consoles on Swappa.
How Depreciation Moves Over Time
Value does not bleed off at a steady rate. The curve has a predictable shape, and understanding it changes when you buy and when you sell.
The first 12 months take the biggest bite. Most phones lose their largest single share of value in the first year, frequently 25-30% for iPhones and more for Android. After that, the curve flattens: depreciation slows noticeably across years two and three.
The flat part of the curve is the buyer’s sweet spot. A device that is one to two generations behind the current flagship has already absorbed the steepest drop, still runs current software, and is well documented by the owner community. You pay far less than launch price and lose far less when you eventually resell.
Some enthusiast and supply-constrained devices recover. It is less common, but certain flagship and limited-supply models stabilize or tick back up around 18-24 months once secondary-market supply tightens. Consoles during shortage periods are the clearest example.
Learn about Tech Depreciation: How Fast Electronics Lose Value.
Timing Effects: When the Data Moves
Release cycles move resale prices on a schedule, and the swings are large enough to plan around.
Prices drop hard right after an announcement. After a new iPhone is announced, used and trade-in prices for the outgoing models fall roughly 9-15% within 24 to 48 hours, and around 20% (sometimes 20-30% on recent models) after the new phone ships. The same dynamic hits Samsung Galaxy S and Z, Google Pixel, and new console generations.
Sell before the announcement, not after. The best selling window is roughly 2 to 4 weeks before the launch event. For Apple, that means late August into early September, which is traditionally when trade-in prices peak.
Seasonal demand stacks on top of the release cycle. Demand is strongest during back-to-school (the first ~3 weeks of August) and the holiday run-up (mid-November through December). Post-holiday January can stay firm on gift trade-ins, though some categories soften in January and February. Tax-refund season in March and April lifts mid-range demand.
| Timing event | Effect on resale price | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 24-48h after a flagship announcement | Drops ~9-15% | Already too late to sell high |
| After the new model ships | Drops ~20% (up to 20-30%) | Outgoing model resets lower |
| 2-4 weeks before announcement | Peak prices | Best window to sell |
| Back-to-school / holidays | Peak demand | List 2-4 weeks ahead |
The rule of thumb across the board: list 2 to 4 weeks before peak demand, and always before the next product announcement.
Get the most for your used tech by figuring out the best time to sell electronics.
What the Data Means for Buyers and Sellers
The same numbers point to different moves depending on which side you are on.
If you are selling
Anchor your price to completed sales for your exact model, storage, condition, and carrier status, not to other people’s asking prices. Sell before the next announcement in your device’s category. Document condition honestly with clear photos and accurate battery health, since well-documented listings sell faster and draw fewer disputes.
Listings on Swappa are staff-reviewed and verified: clean IMEI, no activation lock, fully paid off, and a fully functional battery. Swappa charges a flat 3% seller fee plus payment processing, which is lower than auction-site fees, and listing is free, so there is no cost to test what the market will pay.
One guardrail: if a device is dead, water-damaged, or has cracked glass, it will not meet listing criteria. In that case, the better move is to buy a replacement rather than try to sell.
Figure out how much your device is worth.
If you are buying
Target devices one to two generations behind the current flagship. They have absorbed the steep first-year drop, still run current software, and tend to hold the price you paid. Favor brands and lines with strong retention (iPhone, MacBook, iPad, Galaxy S Ultra) if you care about recovering value later.
Buy unlocked when you can. Unlocked devices have a broader buyer pool, so they cost a bit more, but you keep that same premium when you resell. Every purchase is covered by PayPal buyer protection, with Swappa’s 24/7/365 human support available if anything does not match the listing.
FAQ
What is the most reliable number for used electronics resale value?
The completed sale price. Asking prices reflect what sellers hope to get, while completed sales reflect what buyers actually pay. Filter comps to the same model, storage, condition, and carrier-lock status. Swappa’s completed sale prices show real transaction data.
What used electronics hold their value best?
Apple leads across categories. iPhones retain roughly 60-70% after a year, MacBooks around 50-60%, and iPads hold value far better than Android tablets. Samsung Galaxy S Ultra flagships are the strongest Android holders. These are market estimates and vary by model and condition.
How fast do used phones depreciate?
Most phones lose their biggest share of value in the first 12 months. iPhones typically lose ~25-30% in year one, then depreciation slows. Average Android phones depreciate about twice as fast as iPhones, with first-year losses ranging from roughly 30% to 80% across models.
When is the best time to sell a used phone?
Roughly 2 to 4 weeks before the next flagship announcement. After an announcement, used and trade-in prices drop about 9-15% within a day or two, and around 20% once the new model ships. For Apple, late August into early September is traditionally the peak.
Are these resale figures from Swappa’s own data?
No. The percentages here are market estimates compiled from 2025-2026 industry resale reports, used as directional ranges. For real, model-specific transaction data, check Swappa’s live completed sale prices.
Are unlocked phones worth more at resale?
Consistently, yes. Unlocked devices are compatible with any carrier, which gives them a broader buyer pool, stronger demand, and higher completed sale prices than carrier-locked equivalents.
