A recent study indicates that a foldable iPhone, anticipated to launch at around $2,000, could depreciate by as much as $1,292 within its first year. This prediction is based on current trends in the resale value of foldable smartphones, which on average lose 64.6% of their value annually, a steeper decline compared to the 55.3% depreciation rate of traditional smartphones.
Foldable phone owners typically see a decrease of nearly $998 in value after a year, while traditional smartphone users face a lower average loss of $605. With foldables retaining just 35.4% of their initial value, compared to 44.7% for non-folding phones, the potential financial hit is significant.
As Apple is rumored to introduce its first foldable iPhone, possibly named “iPhone Ultra,” in the fall of 2026, the question of its resale value arises. If it follows the average depreciation rate of current foldables, its value could drop to approximately $708 after a year. However, given Apple’s strong performance in maintaining resale value, as evidenced by the iPhone 16 lineup retaining 51.5% of its value after a year, a foldable iPhone might hold more value. If it matches the iPhone 16’s depreciation rate, it could be worth around $1,030 after a year, reducing the depreciation loss by over $300 compared to typical foldables. Nonetheless, even with Apple’s track record, a $2,000 device could still see a depreciation of about $1,000 over the first 12 months.
