The Best Time to Sell Your Phone (It's Not When You Think)

Ask anyone when they sell their phone and you'll hear: "When the new one comes out" or "When mine breaks." Both are terrible strategies for maximizing value.

The data shows most people leave $150-300 on the table by mistiming their sale.

The Worst Time to Sell (When Everyone Does)

Here's what happens every September:

1. Apple announces new iPhones
2. Millions of people list their old phones
3. Supply floods the market
4. Prices crash 10-15% overnight

If you're selling the same week as a new phone launch, you're competing with millions of other sellers. Basic economics: high supply + same demand = lower prices.

The same pattern happens with Samsung in February and Google in October.

The Best Windows for Maximum Value

Based on market analysis, here are the optimal selling windows:

For iPhones

• Best: 4-6 weeks before September announcement
• Good: January-February (post-holiday lull)
• Avoid: September-October (announcement/launch period)

For Samsung Galaxy

• Best: December-January (before February Unpacked)
• Good: Late summer
• Avoid: February-March (new S-series launch)

For Google Pixel

• Best: August-September (before October launch)
• Good: Spring months
• Avoid: October-November

The 12-Month Rule

Here's a simple framework: Sell at 10-12 months, not 24+ months.

Why? The depreciation math:

Selling Point	iPhone Value	Total Cost of Ownership
12 months	~65% retained	~$350 lost on $1000 phone
18 months	~50% retained	~$500 lost
24 months	~40% retained	~$600 lost

Selling at 12 months instead of 24 months saves you ~$250 in depreciation. If you upgrade annually, your "phone cost" is actually lower than waiting two years.

Check your phone's current value: Phone Trade-in Calculator

The Condition Timing Factor

Your phone's condition matters more the older it gets. Here's the multiplier effect:

At 6 months:

• Excellent condition: 85% value
• Good condition: 80% value
• Difference: 5%

At 24 months:

• Excellent condition: 45% value
• Good condition: 32% value
• Difference: 13%

The longer you wait, the more condition matters. A scratch that costs you $20 at 6 months costs you $60 at 2 years.

Don't Wait for "The Right Time"

I've seen people hold phones for months waiting for prices to go up. They almost never do. Phones are depreciating assets — every day you wait is value lost.

The only exception: if you're within 30 days of a known announcement date. In that case, sell immediately before the announcement, not after.

Upgrade Programs: Worth It?

Carriers and Apple offer upgrade programs that let you trade in annually. Are they worth it?

Pros:

• Forces you to sell at optimal timing (12 months)
• Guaranteed trade-in value
• No hassle of selling privately

Cons:

• Locked into specific ecosystem
• Usually requires trade-in (can't sell privately for more)
• Monthly payments feel invisible but add up

For most people who upgrade every 2+ years, upgrade programs aren't worth it. But if you'd upgrade annually anyway, they remove the friction.

The 80% Rule

Here's my personal rule: Sell when your phone hits 80% of its current trade-in value compared to 3 months ago.

If my phone was worth $500 three months ago and is now worth $400 (80%), that's my signal to sell soon. The depreciation is accelerating.

Action Steps

1. Check your phone's current value with a trade-in calculator
2. Set a calendar reminder for 10 months after purchase
3. Sell 4-6 weeks before the next major announcement in your phone's ecosystem
4. Don't wait for perfection — a good sale today beats a perfect sale that never happens

The best time to sell your phone is almost always sooner than you think.