According to a recent study, the sales of pre-owned iPhones have surged by 28% compared to the same timeframe last year, as users look to free up cash for the upcoming iPhone 16. The highest sales were recorded the day after Apple’s keynote address.
The findings indicate that the iPhone 16 is likely to be a more sought-after upgrade than its predecessors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, which includes a surprising detail.
Surge in Used iPhone Sales
SellCell has introduced a way for iPhone users to secure a trade-in price for their current device while preparing for an upgrade, revealing a remarkable increase of 28.8% in users opting for this option this year.
The uptick was particularly notable, with a 26.6% increase recorded on the keynote day, escalating to 31.7% the following day.
SellCell’s analysis assessed the volume and monetary value of trade-in transactions on the Apple Reveal day of September 9th, alongside the subsequent day, September 10th. This information was compared with the iPhone 15’s reveal, which took place on September 12th, 2023, and the following day. The study encompassed data from 40 phone buyers to evaluate potential sales growth between these two periods year-on-year.
The results clearly indicate an increase in both the volume and value of iPhone trade-ins on the launch date and the day after, showing a 28.8% rise in trade-in volume compared to the iPhone 15 launch, and a 38% increase in trade-in values relative to the previous year’s launch.
A Surprising Twist
The significant rise in trade-in values hints at an unexpected trend: the model that is being traded in the most is the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Initial data indicates that owners of the iPhone 15 Pro Max are leading the pack in trade-ins compared to other iPhone users, accounting for 27.2% of total trade-ins during the early launch phase. This is followed by owners of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, who represent 15% of trade-ins, likely due to the conclusion of their two-year contracts.
Considering that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is among the few models capable of supporting Apple Intelligence and features a unique 5x telephoto lens, it was anticipated that its owners would be less inclined to upgrade after just one year. (I, for one, am eager for the new Camera Control feature.)
The possible explanation could be that individuals purchasing the highest-tier model are also those in a position to afford an upgrade within a year. Alternatively, as one reader humorously pointed out, it may simply be a case of having more resources than practicality …
Pre-orders commence tomorrow, so you might want to prepare in advance.