Envirofone, a leading trade-in platform, has released its analysis of live UK trade-in pricing for the Apple iPhone 17, revealing a clear divergence in the depreciation rates of different models.
The data, collected over a period of ten weeks, shows that the iPhone Air is depreciating at a significantly faster rate than other models in the iPhone 17 range. This is a notable trend, as trade-in pricing is often considered an early indicator of long-term desirability, as it reflects refurbisher risk rather than short-term marketing momentum.
This information is not only important for refurbishers, but also for consumers who are planning ahead for resale or looking to sell their iPhone in the future.
In terms of resale performance within the iPhone 17 range, the Pro and Pro Max variants are retaining their value most effectively, followed by the standard models. However, the iPhone Air is currently sitting in the lower tier of resale performance, with higher-capacity models showing weaker value retention. This is a reversal of the usual trend, where increased storage typically supports stronger second-hand demand.
This divergence in resale performance is already influencing expectations around future sell my iPhone prices for consumers planning ahead.
When compared with previous iPhone generations, the iPhone Air is underperforming in terms of average depreciation. While the broader iPhone 17 range is holding its value better than the iPhone 16 at the same stage, it still trails behind the iPhone 15. This is a significant finding, as the iPhone 15 continues to set the benchmark for resale resilience in the UK market. Its incremental design changes, predictable repair pathways, and stable component architecture support ongoing second-hand demand.
The strength of the iPhone 15 in the resale market is also reflected in the performance of core models in the iPhone 17 range. Outside of the iPhone Air, the Pro and Pro Max are tracking ahead of the iPhone 16 range at the same stage. This is due to their familiar dimensions, stable thermal performance, and well-understood repair economics. UK buyers tend to favor evolutionary upgrades, especially when they plan to keep their device for two to three years before selling it.
One of the most notable findings in Envirofone’s analysis is the inversion of the storage value curve for the iPhone Air. Higher-storage variants are depreciating faster, suggesting that buyers are questioning whether storage premiums are justified on devices with less certain long-term durability or repair economics. This is a significant shift in a market where storage has traditionally boosted sell my iPhone prices.
The current market conditions in the UK, with increasing cost-of-living pressures, have also resulted in a shift in buyer behavior. More consumers are considering resale value at the point of purchase, leading to fewer annual upgrades. This means that experimental designs, such as the ultra-thin iPhone Air, face heightened scrutiny as future resale demand becomes harder to predict.
For trade-in platforms, the current pricing of the iPhone Air suggests higher provisioning risk and slower expected resale velocity. While this does not necessarily mean the device is a failure, it does indicate that market confidence has yet to settle, and both refurbishers and consumers are taking this into consideration when looking at sell my iPhone values.
In terms of the outlook for recovery, Apple has a history of reducing early volatility through software optimization, improved repair pathways, and ecosystem maturity. If long-term durability proves to be stronger than early assumptions, depreciation could moderate. However, for now, the pricing places the iPhone Air in a weaker position than any mainstream iPhone since the iPhone 14.
The next six months will be crucial in determining whether the iPhone Air will stabilize or remain a design-led niche. As of now, the UK resale market is delivering a clear and cautious verdict through trade-in pricing.
