Declining Resale Values for Apple’s Latest Smartphones
Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone, known as the “iPhone Duo,” experienced a precipitous decline in its secondhand buyback price following its launch.
In a similar vein, the iPhone 18 Pro has also faced substantial depreciation, with its buyback value reported to be roughly 30% lower than its original retail price.
According to SellCell, a United States-based platform specializing in the comparison of used smartphone prices, the highest buyback value for the 256GB iPhone Duo in excellent condition stood at $1,560 (approximately 2.08 million won) as of the 14th.
This figure represents a drop of $439 (about 580,000 won), translating to 22% below its launch price of $1,999 (around 2.66 million won).
Conversely, the iPhone 18 Pro, with identical storage capacity, commanded a buyback price of $844 (about 1.12 million won)—a decline of $355 (around 470,000 won), which equates to 29.6% under its launch price of $1,199 (approximately 1.6 million won).
Notably, this depreciation remains significant despite the fact that the iPhone 18 Pro was released roughly a month prior to the iPhone Duo.
The trend persisted even as storage capacity increased to 512GB. For the 512GB iPhone Duo, the apex buyback price reached $1,660 (around 2.21 million won), marking a 24.5% decrease relative to its launch price of $2,199 (approximately 2.93 million won).
In stark contrast, the 512GB iPhone 18 Pro was appraised at $944 (about 1.26 million won), reflecting a staggering 32.5% reduction from its launch price of $1,399 (approximately 1.86 million won).
Market Dynamics in China
The initial premium attached to the iPhone Duo’s launch in China has also dissipated swiftly. According to various local news sources—including the South China Morning Post (SCMP)—the price premium for the 1TB version of the iPhone Duo at Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei market plummeted by at least 2,800 yuan (roughly 560,000 won) within the week following the launch.
Certain online marketplaces even listed the 256GB model at 500 yuan (about 100,000 won) beneath the official launch price once applicable subsidies were factored in.
Moreover, buyback prices exhibited considerable variability contingent on the device’s condition. For the 256GB iPhone Duo, the maximum price for a “Good” condition device—showing signs of usage—was set at $1,315 (approximately 1.75 million won), while a “Poor” graded device fetched $1,107 (around 1.47 million won). These prices represented respective declines of 34.2% and 44.6% from the launch price.
In the case of the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro, the buyback price for a “Good” device was $735 (about 980,000 won), whereas the “Poor” condition unit was priced at $645 (approximately 860,000 won), reflecting declines of 38.7% and 46.2% beneath the launch price, respectively.
Quality Concerns and Controversies
Both models have encountered scrutiny regarding their quality shortly after release. Reports suggested that some iPhone Duo devices exhibited cracks in the inner display, while others had issues with proper screen functionality. The exorbitant costs associated with screen repairs have also emerged as a major concern.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro has been embroiled in controversy surrounding the so-called “panic-full” issue, characterized by sudden freezes and subsequent restarts of the device.
Following numerous user complaints regarding unexpected restarts after unsuccessful Face ID attempts, Apple addressed this glitch in the iOS 27.0.1 update released on September 29.
Nevertheless, reports have persisted in various online forums, indicating that similar problems continue to recur despite the update.
Source link: En.fnnews.com.
