Storage is one of the biggest line items on a new device, and in 2026 it got bigger. A global memory chip shortage pushed Apple, Microsoft, and Valve to raise prices this year, and the step from one storage tier to the next now runs $100 to $600 depending on the device. The question for resale is whether you get any of that back when you sell. Swappa’s sale data says you get back more than most people expect, but only on the right devices and the right tiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, storage size affects resale value. In Swappa sale data from October 1, 2026, moving up one storage tier on a recent phone added roughly $45 to $155 to the average used sale price, and on many models that is two-thirds or more of the new-price upgrade. That share shrinks as a phone ages: on an iPhone 13<\/a>, 256GB sells for just $13 more than 128GB. It also shrinks on the biggest tiers, where an iPhone 17 Pro<\/a> with 1TB sells for only $30 more than the 512GB model. Laptops with soldered storage, like MacBooks<\/a>, keep the most. The rule still holds: buy the storage you need, and treat the resale premium as a partial refund, not a guarantee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Storage tiers have always been a margin lever. The flash chips that separate a 256GB phone from a 512GB one cost the maker far less than the upgrade price, and buyers overbuy because they cannot add storage later on most phones, tablets, and Macs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What changed this year is the cost of the chips themselves. AI data centers are buying up memory, and consumer devices are paying for it. TrendForce, which tracks memory pricing, forecast on September 30, 2026<\/a> that NAND flash contract prices will rise another 15% to 20% in the fourth quarter, on top of steep increases earlier in the year. Device makers have passed that on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Base storage moved up too. The iPhone 17, 17e, Air, and 18 Pro all start at 256GB, as do the Pixel 11<\/a> series and the Galaxy S26<\/a>. The M5 MacBook Air<\/a> starts at 512GB. That means 128GB is now mostly an older-phone tier, which affects how used buyers value it. For the iPhone side of the price story, see iPhone 17 Price Increase: What It Means for Used Buyers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the bigger picture on how devices lose value over time, see Used Tech Resale Value: The Complete Pricing Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is what one storage tier is worth on popular phones, using Swappa’s average sale prices as of October 1, 2026. The new-price step is what the manufacturer charged for the same upgrade at launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy Storage Costs More in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhat the Storage Gap Looks Like on Used Phones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n