Short answer: Standard iPhones lose value fastest in year one and then flatten. Pro and Pro Max models fall further in absolute rupees but hold a higher share of their launch price over four to five years. The steepest depreciation of all is on the largest, most expensive configurations — a Pro Max sheds more value in three years than a standard model costs new.
How to read the numbers below
One clarification, because this is where most depreciation articles mislead.
The figures below compare Apple's India launch price against today's renewed retail price for the same model. That is a reasonable proxy for how a device holds value, but it is not what you will be offered on a trade-in. Trade-in and resale values to an individual are lower, because a buyer taking on a used device carries risk, and a renewed device has had a battery replacement and a quality process applied.
Use this to understand relative depreciation, not to price your own phone.
Standard models
| Model | Launched at | Renewed now | Value retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 (2019) | ₹64,900 | ~₹15,499 | ~24% |
| iPhone 12 (2020) | ₹79,900 | ~₹22,999 | ~29% |
| iPhone 13 (2021) | ₹79,900 | ~₹33,999 | ~43% |
| iPhone 14 (2022) | ₹79,900 | ~₹37,499 | ~47% |
| iPhone 15 (2023) | ₹79,900 | ~₹47,999 | ~60% |
| iPhone 16 (2024) | ₹79,900 | ~₹57,999 | ~73% |
Pro models
| Model | Launched at | Renewed now | Value retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 Pro (2021) | ₹1,19,900 | ~₹47,999 | ~40% |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) | ₹1,29,900 | ~₹49,999 | ~38% |
| iPhone 14 Pro (2022) | ₹1,29,900 | ~₹54,999 | ~42% |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) | ₹1,39,900 | ~₹62,999 | ~45% |
| iPhone 15 Pro (2023) | ₹1,34,900 | ~₹69,999 | ~52% |
Prices are indicative and change with stock. Launch prices are for base storage configurations.
What the pattern actually shows
Year one is brutal, then it flattens. An iPhone 16 retains around 73 per cent after two years; an iPhone 13 around 43 per cent after five. The steepest fall happens early, which is why the worst possible ownership pattern is buying new and selling within eighteen months.
Pro models lose more rupees, not more percentage. An iPhone 14 Pro Max has shed roughly ₹77,000 in four years — more than a new iPhone 13 cost at launch. But it retains about 45 per cent, slightly better than the standard iPhone 13 at a similar age. Large absolute losses, comparable relative losses.
The oldest models flatten hardest. The iPhone 11 sits near 24 per cent, and devices approaching the end of software support depreciate more slowly from there simply because there is little left to lose.
What depreciates fastest
In order: Pro Max models lose the most absolute value. Large storage configurations lose more than base ones, because the premium paid for extra storage largely evaporates. Devices approaching end of iOS support fall away as buyers price in the remaining life — the sharpest single drop usually comes when Apple drops a generation from its update list.
That last point is the one to plan around. See how many years of iOS updates each iPhone gets.
How to use this when buying
Let someone else pay the first-year drop. Buying a two or three-year-old device means the steepest depreciation already happened to the previous owner. That is most of the value case for renewed, stated as arithmetic rather than marketing.
Do not pay a premium for storage you will not use. The extra rupees are the least recoverable part of the purchase.
Think in cost per year, not price. A device that holds value costs less to own than its sticker suggests. Work it through in cost per year of ownership.
Every Premium Renewed iPhone ships at 100% battery health, through over 300 quality checks, with an 18-month warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPhone holds its value best?
Recent standard models retain the highest share of launch price — the iPhone 16 sits at roughly 73 per cent after two years. Among older devices, Pro models tend to retain a slightly higher percentage than standard models of the same age.
Which iPhone depreciates fastest?
Pro Max models lose the most in absolute rupees, and high-storage configurations lose the most relative to what the extra storage cost. Devices nearing the end of iOS support also fall sharply.
How much does an iPhone lose in the first year?
The first year is consistently the steepest part of the curve, after which depreciation slows considerably. That is why buying a two to three-year-old device captures most of the value.
Is renewed retail price the same as resale value?
No. Renewed retail prices reflect a device that has had its battery replaced and passed a quality process, with a warranty attached. What you are offered on a trade-in or private sale is lower.
Does storage size affect resale value?
Yes, but not proportionally. The premium paid for larger storage is largely not recovered, so higher configurations depreciate more steeply in relative terms.
