Buying a Used iPhone Makes More Sense Than Ever

Key Points:

• Apple plans to improve iPhone longevity with iOS 17 updates, enhancing CPU scheduling to support older models like the iPhone 11, making used iPhones more viable for longer use.
• Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated unavoidable price increases for Apple products due to a global memory shortage driven by high demand for AI data centers, which is expected to impact newer, premium devices more.
• Maintaining and repairing older iPhones is generally more cost-effective than buying new ones, with battery replacements for older models being significantly cheaper than for the latest iPhones.
• The market for used and refurbished iPhones is growing as consumers seek to avoid rising new device costs, although used device prices are also expected to increase gradually due to overall electronics inflation.
• Experts suggest that buying used iPhones or holding onto current devices longer is currently the most economical and environmentally friendly choice amid rising tech prices and supply chain challenges.