FLAGSHIP PHONE DEPRECIATION (2019 UPDATE)
UPSETTING: GALAXY S10 VS iPHONE XS TRENDS
DEPRECIATION STUDY INTRODUCTION
Back in March 2019, a week before the release of the Samsung Galaxy S10, BankMyCell released our 2018-2019 phone depreciation study. The overarching storyline of this data (which received over 250 press features worldwide) concerned the Samsung Galaxy S9 being the fastest depreciating handset in 2018, losing value twice the rate of its flagship competitor, the iPhone X.
With new phones costing up to $1,600, this provoked the question: Would these depreciation rates mean the Samsung Galaxy S10 could be a bad investment for consumers with upgrade resale intent? We take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S10 and iPhone XS range using the same metrics… in short… it’s worse.
CONSUMER FOCUSED REPORT SUMMARY
6 NEED TO KNOW FACTS ABOUT YOUR GALAXY S OR iPHONE'S RESALE VALUE
Galaxy S10 Lost Up To -53.3% Within 30 Days Of Release
Released in March 2019, the Samsung Galaxy S10 range is one of the fastest depreciating handsets since 2017. The average depreciation between the 3 models and available storage sizes was –46.69% in 30 days of release, 5.03% more than the Galaxy S9’s first month’s devaluation in 2018 (-41.66%).
- S10 Depreciation figures ranged from -40.0% to –53.3% depending on model / capacity
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB – Had the highest monetary loss in month 1 (-$850 from $1,600)
- Galaxy S10e 128GB – Had the highest depreciation rate in month 1 (-53.3%)
Galaxy S10’s Month 1 Deprecation Is More Than The iPhone XS Lost In 9 Months!
On a depreciation percentage basis, the Galaxy S10 range lost more in the first month as the iPhone XS/XR range has in 9 months! If you rely on trading in your old device when you upgrade it may be worth taking into account, now these smartphones cost up to $1,600.
- Samsung Galaxy S10 range lost 46.69% in the first month of release
- iPhone XS / XR range lost 42.40% in 9 months of release
Galaxy S10 Predicted To Lose 65.01% Of Its Value By March 2020
If the Galaxy S10 follows the same depreciation trend as the S9, taking into the alarming first month of trade-in depreciation, they stand to lose an average of 65.01% by the time the next Samsung Galaxy S flagship is released in March 2020.
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB – Has the highest predicted monetary loss by March 2020 (-$1,062 from $1,600)
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB & 512GB – Have the highest predicted depreciation rate by March 2020 (-66.4%)
In Month 1, The Galaxy S10e Lost 11.1% More Than The iPhone XR Has In 7 Months
Even the budget versions of the flagship phones followed a similar pattern, with the Galaxy S10e losing 11.1% more of its value in 30 days than the iPhone XR did in over half a year!
- Galaxy S10e – Lost an average of -50.2% in 1 month across all storage capacities
- iPhone XR – Lost an average of -39.1% in 7 months across all storage capacities
iPhone XS Is Depreciating Over 25% Faster Than The iPhone X
When reviewing the depreciation data, even though the iPhone XS range is outperforming the Galaxy S10 range in terms of resale value, it wasn’t a cause for celebration for Apple owners. In the 9 months from release, iPhone XS is losing value much faster than the iPhone X did (-13.85% more in fact)
- iPhone XS – Lost an average of -44.78% 9 months from release across all storage capacities
- iPhone X – Lost an average of -30.93% 9 months from release across all storage capacities
iPhone X's Retained Almost 20% More Value Than The Galaxy S9 (1 Year Of Release)
In our last study, we had 9 months data to compare the Galaxy S9 pricing in 2018, now with the Galaxy S yearly release cycle is complete we can see how fast the iPhone X and Galaxy S9 depreciated in one year – 16.46% difference in the favor of iPhone X.
- Galaxy S9 – Lost an average of -63.29% 1 year from release across all storage capacities
- iPhone X – Lost an average of -46.83% 1 year from release across all storage capacities
HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE IN 30 DAYS?
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10 RANGE
GALAXY S10’S LOST UP TO 53.3% IN 30 DAYS OF RELEASE
Below we see the top trade-in values for unlocked Galaxy S10 / S10+ / S10e devices exactly one month after they shipped in the US. As you can see, there is an alarming 30-day decline in resale value compared to the initial launch price, typically the value offered by trade-in stores is much higher for new devices in this timeframe.
Standout depreciation figures since the initial launch price:
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB – Had the highest monetary loss in month 1 (-$850 from $1,600)
- Galaxy S10e 128GB – Had the highest depreciation rate in month 1 (-53.3%)
Last year the Samsung Galaxy S9 lost 41.66% of its launch price in month 1 compared to:
- Galaxy S10 lost an average of -42.7% in 1 month across all storage capacities
- Galaxy S10+ lost an average of -47.0% in 1 month across all storage capacities
- Galaxy S10e lost an average of -50.2% in 1 month across all storage capacities
- Galaxy S10 512GB launched for $1,050, after 1 month it lost -$430 (-40.9%)
- Galaxy S10+ 128GB launched for $1,000, after 1 month it lost -$400 (-40.0%)
- Galaxy S10+ 512GB launched for $1,250, after 1 month it lost -$600 (-48.0%)
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB launched for $1,600, after 1 month it lost -$850 (-53.1%)
- Galaxy S10e 128GB launched for $750, after 1 month it lost -$400 (-53.3%)
- Galaxy S10e 256GB launched for $850, after 1 month it lost -$400 (-47.1%)
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE APPLE TO CATCHUP?
iPHONE XS / XR RANGE
iPHONE XS RANGE
iPHONE XS TOOK 9 MONTHS TO MATCH THE S10’S 1 MONTH DEPRECATION
Below we see the top trade-in values for unlocked iPhone XS / XS Max devices 9 months after their original release. The XS range was originally listed with high resale values, and it’s taken over 9 months for them to reach a similar percentage of losses compared to the first month of the Galaxy S10.
Standout depreciation figures since the initial launch price:
- iPhone XS Max 512GB – Had the highest monetary loss in 9 months (-$648 from $1,449)
- iPhone XS 512GB – Had the highest depreciation rate in 9 months (-47.7%)
Last year the iPhone X lost 30.93% of its launch price in 9 months compared to:
- iPhone XS lost an average of -44.8% in 9 months across all storage capacities
- iPhone XS Max lost an average of -42.0% in 9 months across all storage capacities
- iPhone XS 64GB launched for $999, after 9 months it was worth $566 (-43.3%)
- iPhone XS 256GB launched for $1,149, after 9 months it was worth $651 (-43.3%)
- iPhone XS 512GB launched for $1,349, after 9 months it was worth $706 (-47.7%)
- iPhone XS Max 64GB launched for $1,099, after 9 months it was worth $667 (-39.3%)
- iPhone XS Max 256GB launched for $1,249, after 9 months it was worth $726 (-41.9%)
- iPhone XS Max 512GB launched for $1,449, after 9 months it was worth $801 (-44.7%)
iPHONE XR RANGE
IN MONTH 1 GALAXY S10e LOST 11.1% MORE THAN THE XR DID IN 7 MONTHS
Below we see the top trade-in values for unlocked iPhone XR devices 7 months after their original release. Even 7 months, the XR is close to the 50.2% depreciation rate of the Galaxy S10e in its first month.
Standout price drops from the initial launch price:
- iPhone XR – Lost an average of -39.1% in 7 months across all storage capacities
- The iPhone XR 256GB – Had the highest monetary loss in 9 months (-$368 from $899)
- The iPhone XR 256GB – Had the highest depreciation rate in 9 months (-40.9%)
- iPhone XR 64GB launched for $749, after 7 months it was worth $451 (-39.8%)
- iPhone XR 128GB launched for $799, after 7 months it was worth $506 (-36.7%)
- iPhone XR 256GB launched for $899, after 7 months it was worth $531 (-40.9%)
HOW MUCH COULD YOU LOSE BY MARCH 2020?
GALAXY S10 PRICE PREDICTIONS
GALAXY S10 PREDICTED TO LOSE 65.01% OF ITS VALUE BY MARCH
Based the resale pricing trends of the Samsung Galaxy S9, we can predict how much a consumer will get for a Galaxy S10 trade in one year on, when Samsung releases their new Galaxy S handset, typically in March.
Standout price drops from the initial launch price:
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB – Has the highest predicted monetary loss by March 2020 (-$1,062 from $1,600)
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB & 512GB – Have the highest predicted depreciation rate by March 2020 (-66.4%)
- Galaxy S10 128GB launched for $900, predicted value 1 year after release: $325 (-$575)
- Galaxy S10 512GB launched for $1,050, predicted value 1 year after release: $365 (-$685)
- Galaxy S10+ 128GB launched for $1,000, predicted value 1 year after release: $355 (-$645)
- Galaxy S10+ 512GB launched for $1,250, predicted value 1 year after release: $420 (-$830)
- Galaxy S10+ 1TB launched for $1,600, predicted value 1 year after release: $538 (-$1,062)
- Galaxy S10e 128GB launched for $750, predicted value 1 year after release: $274 (-$476)
- Galaxy S10e 256GB launched for $850, predicted value 1 year after release: $296 (-$554)
HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE IN 1 YEAR?
GALAXY S9 VS iPHONE X
THE GALAXY S9 LOST ALMOST 20% MORE VALUE THAN iPHONE X
In our last study, we had 9 months Galaxy S9 pricing data in 2018, now with the Galaxy S yearly release cycle is complete we decided to take a look at the full year’s depreciation data comparing it to a year’s depreciation of the iPhone X.
Samsung Galaxy S9 - 1 Year depreciation
- Galaxy S9 64GB launched for $720, after 12 months it was worth $280 (-61.1%)
- Galaxy S9 128GB launched for $770, after 12 months it was worth $281 (-63.5%)
- Galaxy S9 256GB launched for $820, after 12 months it was worth $285 (-65.2%)
iPhone X - 1 Year depreciation
- iPhone X 256GB launched for $1,149, after 12 months it was worth $595 (-48.2%)
- iPhone X 64GB launched for $999, after 12 months it was worth $545 (-45.4%)
- Galaxy S9 64GB launched for $720, after 12 months it was worth $280 (-61.1%)
- Galaxy S9 128GB launched for $770, after 12 months it was worth $281 (-63.5%)
- Galaxy S9 256GB launched for $820, after 12 months it was worth $285 (-65.2%)
- Galaxy S9+ 64GB launched for $840, after 12 months it was worth $316 (-62.4%)
- Galaxy S9+ 128GB launched for $890, after 12 months it was worth $316 (-64.5%)
- Galaxy S9+ 256GB launched for $940, after 12 months it was worth $316 (-66.4%)
- iPhone X 256GB launched for $1,149, after 12 months it was worth $595 (-48.2%)
- iPhone X 64GB launched for $999, after 12 months it was worth $545 (-45.4%)
REPORT ASSETS
METHODOLOGY & DOWNLOADS
OUR DATA COLLECTION
When a new handset is released, BankMyCell receives the initial resale quotes into our system. We then track and store this data hourly per device in a pricing matric broken down by:
- Device name e.g. Samsung Galaxy S10
- Storage capacity e.g. 64GB or 512GB
- Network Carrier e.g. AT&T or Verizon
- Condition e.g. A Grade or Broken
