SellCell Study Warns Rumored iPhone Ultra Could Lose About $1,000 in Its First Year
If Apple ships a roughly $2,000 foldable later this year, category-wide resale declines for foldables point to steep short-term losses for buyers.
Overview
- Tuesday's SellCell analysis found foldable phones lose an average of 64.6% of their value after 12 months, the largest drop of any smartphone category.
- Applying that average to industry rumors of a $2,000 iPhone Ultra produced a modeled first-year loss of about $1,292, though SellCell and reporters note real losses could be lower if Apple matches its usual resale performance.
- Historical data in the study show recent iPhones retained roughly 51% of their value after a year, which would cut modeled depreciation on a $2,000 device to about $1,000 rather than $1,300.
- Buyers who want to test the device could use Apple's 14-day return policy to avoid resale loss, but those who keep a high-priced foldable risk significant value erosion when they try to resell it.
- Accessory listings, leaked images and reports of early production yield problems feed expectations of a fall 2026 launch, and those supply signals could shape initial pricing, availability and resale demand.