Thinking to change smartphones? Check resale value first!
When we buy a high-end smartphone, the idea is often to keep it for a minimum of one year until the next generation arrives. If you decide to change beforehand, it is still possible to resell it on the second-hand market. However, the discount on some models may have some unpleasant surprises in store for you.
The smartphones chosen for this analysis are the current flagships of the largest manufacturers. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the difference between the time when the device was launched on the market and the subsequent discount. Of course, the choice of colors was not taken into account, and we also assumed a good condition.
To establish an average price on the second-hand market, we based ourselves on several popular websites such as eBay, Amazon, and Swappa. We have not taken into account in our list the Galaxy Note 9 or Oppo Find X because we considered their release too recent and the second-hand market is still limited.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
Announced at MWC 2018 and released a few weeks later, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ were launched at an official price of $720 and $840 respectively for the standard model with 64GB of external storage and a microSD card extension. Samsung's latest flagships are considered by many to be the best Android smartphones of the moment.
- Galaxy S9 review : Samsung's state of the art
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ : how much difference does a plus make?
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ prices
| Samsung Galaxy S9 (64 GB) | Samsung Galaxy S9+ (64 GB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Price | $720 | $840 |
| Current price | $620 | $740 |
| Average price on the second-hand market | $480 | $550 |
iPhone X
The iPhone X marked Apple's first big redesign in a long time, but now the new generation (XR, XS, XS Max) have come to town and maybe you'd like to keep up with the cutting edge from Cupertino. Thanks to Apple's strong brand, iPhones typically retain a lot of their value down the line. The iPhone X isn't officially sold by Apple anymore but still hovers around the $900 mark on Amazon. On the second-hand market, a unit in good condition can still fetch over $700.
iPhone X Price
| iPhone X (64 GB) | |
|---|---|
| Launch price | $999 |
| Current price | $900 |
| Average price on the second-hand market | $700 |
LG G7
Designed to challenge Samsung's domination, the G7 was launched by LG last June at a price of $750 for the 64GB version. With the LG G7 ThinQ, LG continues its journey with a more successful design and a very good finish, elements that have become standard at the manufacturer. That said, the term "ThinQ" is nothing more than a marketing tool and brings no added value to customers.
LG G7 Price
| LG G7 (64 GB) | |
|---|---|
| Launch price | $750 |
| Current price | $750 |
| Average price on the second-hand market | $485 |
Sony Xperia XZ2
The Sony Xperia XZ2 was one of two models launched by Sony after the MWC. Available from $499 for the 64GB version, it is the first smartphone to feature a new Ambient Flow design.
Sony Xperia XZ2
| Sony Xperia XZ2 (64 GB) | |
|---|---|
| Launch price | $650 |
| Current price | $499 |
| Average price on the second-hand market | $390 |
OnePlus 6
While waiting for its replacement probably scheduled for next month, the OnePlus 6 is still the top flagship of the Chinese manufacturer; if you are looking for a fast Android smartphone that shows great performance with an ultra-fast charging system, then the OnePlus 6 is undoubtedly a smartphone for you. Due to its rather limited sales system, the OnePlus 6 hasn't been discounted much.
OnePlus 6 Price
| OnePlus 6 (64 GB) | |
|---|---|
| Launch price | $529 |
| Current price | $529 |
| Average price on the second-hand market | $500 |
What is the actual discount?
Not surprisingly, all smartphones are rapidly losing value. Only OnePlus 6 seems more immune to the problem. Like the automotive world, smartphones can crash quickly after their release. Some models, such as the LG G7, may be holding on to their initial retail price, but the second-hand market shows a more accurate, lower value.
Below, you can get an idea of how much you get from the average resale price relative to the launch price:
- OnePlus 6 - 94% of the launch price
- iPhone X - 70% of the launch price
- Xperia XZ2 - 60% of the launch price
- Galaxy S9 - 67% of the launch price
- Galaxy S9 Plus - 65% of the launch price
- LG G7 - 65% of the launch price
However, there is one element to take into account when reselling that plays a major role in the price, and that is the condition of your smartphone. Depending on how hard you used it, this could affect your resale price significantly.
Do you buy used smartphones? Have you ever sold one of your old cellphones?
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