Every Month You Wait, Your Phone Loses Value
We get it. That old iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy S22 is sitting in your drawer, and you keep telling yourself you’ll sell it “eventually.” Maybe you’re waiting for the right time, or perhaps you’re holding onto it as a backup. But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: your phone is losing value every single day you wait.
In this article, we’ll break down exactly how much money you’re losing by holding onto your old device and why acting now could put hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket.
The Depreciation Reality: Your Phone Loses 10-15% Value Every Quarter
Unlike a classic car or vintage wine, smartphones don’t age well. Industry data shows that most phones lose approximately 10-15% of their resale value every three months. That might not sound like much, but let’s put it into perspective:
- Month 1: Your iPhone 14 Pro that’s worth $600 today
- Month 3: That same phone is now worth $510-540
- Month 6: Down to $435-460
- Month 12: You’re looking at roughly $300-350
That’s potentially $250-300 lost in a single year just by waiting. And this depreciation accelerates dramatically when new models are announced.
The “New Model Effect”: When Values Plummet Overnight
September is traditionally Apple’s launch month, and Samsung usually releases flagship phones in February. When these new models hit the market, something dramatic happens to older phone values: they can drop 20-30% almost immediately.
Here’s what happened to the iPhone 13 Pro Max when the iPhone 14 was announced in September 2022:
- August 2022: Average buyback price of $750
- October 2022: Average buyback price of $525
That’s a $225 loss in just two months. People who sold before the announcement pocketed significantly more than those who waited. Learn the best times to sell for maximum value.
The Hidden Costs Beyond Depreciation
But depreciation isn’t the only cost of holding onto your old phone. Consider these additional factors:
1. Physical Deterioration
Even sitting in a drawer, phone batteries degrade over time. A phone that’s been sitting unused for 6-12 months may have battery issues, which significantly reduces its resale value. Buyback companies (including us at Cell Me Your Phone) adjust offers based on battery health.
2. Technological Obsolescence
As phones age, they become less desirable. A 3-year-old flagship phone competing with budget new phones means fewer buyers and lower demand. In 2025, phones without 5G capability or running older operating systems are worth significantly less than they were just a year ago.
3. Market Saturation
The longer you wait, the more people are selling the same model. When the iPhone 15 launched, thousands of people sold their iPhone 14s simultaneously, creating a supply glut that pushed prices down even further.
4. Opportunity Cost
Money sitting in the form of an unused phone isn’t earning anything. If you sold that $500 phone today and invested the proceeds, you’d earn returns instead of watching the phone’s value evaporate.
When Is the Best Time to Sell?
Based on years of data in the phone buyback industry, here are the optimal selling windows:
The Sweet Spot: 6-18 Months After Purchase
This is when your phone still holds maximum value but you’ve gotten good use from it. Phones in this age range typically retain 50-70% of their original value if in good condition.
Before Major Announcements
Sell your iPhone in July or August (before September announcements). Sell your Samsung Galaxy in December or January (before February launches). You’ll get 15-25% more than if you wait until after the new models drop. See our complete timing guide for all major phone brands.
When You Upgrade
The moment you have your new phone activated is the best time to sell your old one. It’s still in good condition, you don’t need it anymore, and you haven’t entered the depreciation spiral.
Real-World Example: The Cost of Waiting
Let’s look at a real scenario from one of our customers in Salt Lake City:
Sarah’s Story: Sarah had an iPhone 13 Pro in excellent condition. In January 2024, she could have sold it for $625. She kept putting it off, thinking “I’ll do it next month.” By June 2024, with the iPhone 15 rumors circulating and the iPhone 13 Pro aging another six months, the same phone was worth $450. By waiting six months, Sarah lost $175—money that could have gone toward her new phone, bills, or savings.
The Bottom Line: Sell Sooner Rather Than Later
Every day you hold onto an old phone costs you money. Here’s what you should do:
- Get a quote today – Even if you’re not ready to sell immediately, knowing what your phone is worth now gives you a baseline.
- Watch the calendar – If a new model announcement is coming in 2-3 months, sell now before the value drops.
- Stop waiting for the “perfect time” – The perfect time to sell was yesterday. The second-best time is today.
- Don’t overthink condition – Even phones with minor issues are worth selling. The difference between “good” and “excellent” condition is much smaller than the loss from waiting 6 months.
How Cell Me Your Phone Makes Selling Easy
We understand that life gets busy and selling your old phone might feel like just another task on your to-do list. That’s exactly why we’ve streamlined our process:
- Instant quotes in under 60 seconds – No guessing, no surprises
- Free prepaid shipping labels – We handle the logistics
- Same-day payment – Get your money via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle the day we receive your phone
- Professional data wiping – Your privacy is protected
- 24/7 customer service – Questions answered in minutes, not days
Don’t Let Your Old Phone Collect Dust—And Lose Value
Your old phone is a depreciating asset. Unlike stocks or real estate, it will never increase in value. Every day it sits unused is a day you’re losing money.
The choice is simple: Sell now and maximize your return, or wait and watch your phone’s value continue to decline. For most people, especially those in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah where we offer local meetups, there’s no reason to delay.
Ready to turn that old phone into cash? Get your instant quote from Cell Me Your Phone today. It takes less than a minute, and you’ll know exactly what you’re leaving on the table by waiting.
Remember: In the world of phone resale, timing is everything—and the time to act is now.