iPhones are holding their value exceptionally well.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is currently the most frequently traded-in model. Photo: Bloomberg .

Many users are selling or participating in trade-in programs for their iPhone 17 Pro Max after only a short time of ownership. However, this doesn't necessarily mean Apple's latest flagship model is having problems. According to Phonearena , this may reflect a different market trend where the device holds its value so well, allowing buyers to easily "cash in" quickly.

According to a report from SellCell , the iPhone 17 Pro Max is currently the most traded-in model, surpassing previous generations like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max. If you've been following the resale markets recently, you can find a significant number of iPhone 17 Pro Max units in "like new" or "very good" condition.

In fact, the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn't an unattractive product. It remains among the best-selling smartphones globally in 2025, demonstrating the strong appeal of Apple's top-of-the-line model. The issue is that this model holds its value significantly better than its predecessor, encouraging many people to resell it shortly after purchase.

SellCell reports that the iPhone 17 Pro Max loses only about 25.4% of its value after 145 days since its launch. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max depreciates by as much as 32.5% over the same period. This difference means that buyers of the iPhone 17 Pro Max can resell it at a significantly higher price than users of the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the same time.

Thanks to its strong resale value, Apple's latest smartphone model quickly captured a large market share in the trade-in program. Its share steadily increased from 5.1% at the end of November 2025 to 7.7% at the beginning of January this year and reached 9.5% at the end of February.

Notably, the fact that many older iPhone models like the iPhone 13, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, and iPhone 14 are still among the most frequently traded-in devices isn't necessarily a negative sign. The main reason is that these devices remain popular and retain their value significantly better than many Android smartphones from the same period.

iPhones still stand out for their ability to retain their value well after extended use. Photo: Bloomberg .

The above data presents a challenge for Apple in future generations, especially the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. If Apple continues to maintain a minimal upgrade cycle, the device may struggle to retain long-term buyers. Conversely, if this year's model offers significant changes without increasing the price, the trend of early resale may be reduced.

In an increasingly saturated smartphone market, the ability to differentiate oneself and retain users after a few months of use will become crucial for Apple, rather than relying solely on initial launch sales.