A new study by iPhone recycling comparison site Compare and Recycle has found that two-thirds (66%) of iPhone users can’t differentiate between previous models, highlighting just how little the devices have changed in design in recent years.
iPhone owners now waiting years to upgrade
Despite Apple’s September launches, the data reveals that the majority of Apple consumers aren’t rushing to upgrade, with just 2% of iPhone users choosing to upgrade annually, and the majority waiting three years or more before replacing their handset.
How long do people wait to upgrade their iPhone
- 3 years (34%)
- 4 years (23%)
- More than 5 years (23%)
- 2 years (18%)
- Every 12 months (2%)
“Frequent upgrades create an enormous amount of unnecessary waste, and our study shows that people are now keeping their devices longer, which is good news for both their wallets and the environment.” said Antonia Hristov, Head of Marketing at Compare and Recycle.
“With iPhone models looking similar in design each year, and having a lot of the same features, consumers don’t feel as pressured to keep up with the latest tech and are instead upgrading when they need to.”
iPhone users opting for upgrades out of necessity
The study also found that most consumers only replace their iPhones out of necessity, not desire:
- My iPhone felt slower: 32%
- My handset was damaged: 21%
- Wanted to change my phone: 16%
- Wanted the newest model: 9%
- Wanted the latest features: 7%
A third (32%) of iPhone users say they only upgraded their iPhones because they felt they were running slower, which is something Apple have been fined for doing in the past.
iPhones lose almost half of their value in a year
According to additional research from Compare and Recycle, iPhones lose most of their resale value in the first year, with the latest iPhone 16 series depreciating on average 45% in the first 12 months, which equates to around £512. The model seeing the biggest drop in value was the iPhone 16 Pro 1TB, which lost 51% of value, depreciating by around £64 a month.
However, experts at the phone recycling comparison site Compare and Recycle say that the other iPhone Pro models are depreciating slower than their non-Pro counterparts (dropping on average 41% in value in the first year). For those keeping future upgrades in mind, it could be worth considering a pro model to help retain more value.
No matter the model however, the largest drops in value occurs as new iPhones are released, and with trade-in prices dropping after the official announcement from Apple (9th September), they say that those holding onto older models should sell their phone ahead of the new iPhone going on sale.
