Apple's Foldable iPhone Could Lose Almost $1,300 in Value in First Year, Study Suggests

Key Points:

• A study by SellCell suggests a $2,000 foldable iPhone could lose about $1,292 in value within its first year, based on current foldable smartphone depreciation trends.
• Foldable smartphones depreciate faster than traditional models, losing an average of 64.6% of their value in 12 months compared to 55.3% for non-folding phones.
• SellCell estimates foldable phones retain just 35.4% of their launch value after a year, while traditional smartphones retain 44.7%, with foldable owners losing nearly $1,000 on average annually.
• Rumored to launch in fall 2026, the foldable "iPhone Ultra" could see better resale value than typical foldables if it follows Apple's historical trend of stronger retention, potentially losing closer to $970 in value after a year.
• Even with Apple's better-than-average depreciation rates, a $2,000 foldable iPhone would likely still lose about half its value within 12 months, equating to roughly $1,000 in depreciation.