iPhone Air rapidly losing value according to latest market analysis

Resale value is one of the most reliable indicators of a smartphone's actual market performance. That's precisely why the current developments surrounding the iPhone Air are attracting attention. New analyses show that the model is depreciating unusually quickly, lagging significantly behind other current iPhone devices. The data provides a clear picture of how the iPhone Air is performing on the secondary market and how significant the difference is compared to the iPhone 17 series.

SellCell has published a ten-week analysis based on real-time trade-in prices from more than 40 US buyback companies. All devices included were assessed as being in good condition to ensure fair and consistent comparisons. The values were then compared to the respective original manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) over several weeks. This systematic approach clearly demonstrates the disparity in resale value across Apple's current product line.

The iPhone 17 series is performing well.

After ten weeks, the iPhone 17 models have experienced an average depreciation of 34.6 percent. This decline is less pronounced than that of the iPhone 16 series, which saw a 39 percent depreciation at the same time last year. The 17 series also performs well compared to older models. The iPhone 15 models continue to hold their value exceptionally well, losing an average of only 31.9 percent after ten weeks. The iPhone 14 series experienced a depreciation of 36.6 percent.

Within the iPhone 17 series, the Pro segment performs particularly well. The 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max depreciates by only 26.1 percent, making it the best-performing device in the entire dataset. The 512GB Pro Max variant also fares well with a depreciation of 30.3 percent. All Pro and Pro Max configurations retain their value below 40 percent, indicating continued high demand on the secondary market.

The standard iPhone 17 models lost between 32.9 and 40.8 percent of their value, placing them in the usual range for non-Pro models. Overall, after ten weeks, the 17 series retained 9.7 percent more value than the iPhone Air.

The iPhone Air is experiencing an unusually sharp decline in value.

In direct comparison, the iPhone Air falls significantly short. Across all storage configurations, it loses an average of 44.3 percent of its original value. The losses range between 40.3 and 47.7 percent, a level not seen since the iPhone 14 Plus and some configurations of the iPhone 13 mini from 2022.

The 1TB iPhone Air model is particularly affected. According to SellCell, it is the worst device in the entire dataset when it comes to value retention.

While the iPhone 17 models stabilized in week ten and price trends confirmed typical patterns for the 15 and 16 series, the downward trend for the iPhone Air continued. SellCell interprets this as a sign of longer-term uncertainty in the secondary market. The Air's price trajectory thus deviates significantly from the usual behavior of Apple models.

Why the iPhone Air is falling so drastically

The analysis doesn't provide direct causes, but the available data suggests several possible factors. The iPhone Air's price and technical specifications place it between the standard and Pro models, which can lead to an unclear positioning. The distribution of demand is also seen as a factor, as the Pro models clearly dominate the secondary market. Furthermore, it appears that certain storage configurations of the Air are particularly sensitive to market fluctuations, further exacerbating the price decline.

However, the decisive factor is the sustained decline over ten weeks. This lack of stabilization is precisely what clearly distinguishes the iPhone Air from the other models in the analysis.

The iPhone Air performs worse than all comparable models.

The ten-week data clearly shows that the iPhone Air currently has the weakest value retention within Apple's product lineup. With an average loss of over 44 percent, it lags far behind the iPhone 17 series and even falls short of several older models. The 1TB model, in particular, stands out negatively. While the 17 series models stabilized towards the end of the analysis period, the iPhone Air continued to lose value.

This paints a clear picture for the market. The iPhone Air is developing differently than expected and exhibits an unusual dynamic that is relevant for both resale prices and future purchasing decisions. Anyone wanting to understand the current state of the secondary market for the iPhone Air will find these figures an important indicator of how the model is actually performing. (Image: Shutterstock / Hadrian)