iPhone 12 Depreciates Less Than iPhone 11, Study Finds

iPhone 12 models have held their value better than ‌iPhone‌ 11 models did after the same amount of time, according to a new report by SellCell.

iPhone 12 Layout Feature
During the six months following launch, the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models lost on average 34.5 percent of their value, while during the same period after the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 11 lineup, ‌iPhone‌ 11 models lost 43.8 percent of their value. This means that ‌iPhone‌ 12 models are currently holding their value 9.3 percentage points better than the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models did during the six months after launch.

Although the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 prompted the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models to lose eight percent of their value in three months and ten percent of their value within nine months, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models are now steadying in their depreciation.

Out of the ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 has depreciated the least with a loss of only 31.7 percent, despite being the least expensive model. This is 17.5 percent less depreciation than the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro and nine percent less depreciation than the average across all three handsets.

iphone 11 depreciation sellcell
Throughout the 21 months since its launch, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 still performed best, having lost 49.1 percent of its value overall. The ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, on the other hand, was the worst performer, losing 56.9 percent of its value in the 21 months since its launch.

In the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, the iPhone 12 mini depreciated the most, losing 41 percent of its value after six months. This is almost nine percent more depreciation on average than the other devices evaluated, perhaps indicating reduced demand. Even so, each of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models recovered value. The iPhone 12 Pro Max lost 49.2 percent in month one, but by month six, the handset recovered 20.3 percent of its MSRP.

iphone 12 depreciation sellcell
Overall, both the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 series of devices lost 40 to 50 percent of their value within the first four weeks of launch on average. The ‌iPhone‌ is still by far the best smartphone for value retention regardless of the exact model. For example, a previous study has shown the ‌iPhone‌ 12 holds its value 20 percent better than the Samsung Galaxy S21.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

MacLawyer Avatar
31 months ago
Another happy iPhone 12 mini owner here. ?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrMacintoshIII Avatar
31 months ago
Excellent news for when I sell my 12 Pro for a 13 mini.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Just sayin... Avatar
31 months ago
I believe the 12 is holding its’ value more than the 11 did earlier because of a number of factors: chip shortage supply constraints and an increased post-lockdown demand surge. Either way, when the 13 comes out, I‘m upgrading and giving my 12 Pro Max to DW. Her 11 goes to son & DIL…
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghanwani Avatar
31 months ago
This probably has to do with the falling dollar and everything going up in price. Have you looked at the used car market lately? iPhone 11 has likely lost less value than iPhone XR did a year ago, and so on.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
31 months ago
Yeah this is not surprising at all... OLED, 5G, Ceramic Shield, definitely going to be seen as more future proof than the 11 at equivalent times of purchase.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skika Avatar
31 months ago
Because of the redesign.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 16 4 Web Push

Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:06 am PST by
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
airpods pro 2 pink

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware update for both the Lightning and USB-C versions of the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 6B34, up from the 6B32 firmware introduced in November. Apple does not provide details on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware beyond "bug fixes and other improvements," so it is unclear what's new in the update, but prior software releases ...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

'All-Screen' iPhone Under-Display Camera Enters Development

Wednesday December 6, 2023 2:03 am PST by
Apple's Korean suppliers have begun developing smartphone under-display cameras (UDC), paving the way for the first iPhone with a true "all-screen" appearance. According to The Elec, LG Innotek has entered the preliminary development of the UDC, which sits under the display and does not result in a visible hole in the panel when the camera is not in use. A UDC differs from a typical front ...
magsafe blue 2

iOS 17.2 Brings Qi2 Support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Models

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:04 am PST by
The iOS 17.2 update that Apple is set to release to the public in the near future will bring support for the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Qi2 was mentioned in the release notes for the RC version of the update that came out today. With the addition of support for the new standard, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models will work with Qi2...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 May Reuse Existing iPhone 14 Battery

Wednesday December 6, 2023 1:17 pm PST by
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
airpods pro bulbs

Black Friday Prices Return for AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C, iPad, and More

Tuesday December 5, 2023 7:30 am PST by
Today we're tracking a collection of deals that are matching - or nearly matching - the same all-time low discounts we saw during Black Friday. This includes the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, 9th generation iPad, and M1 MacBook Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the ...
instagram messenger

Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

Tuesday December 5, 2023 1:57 am PST by
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....