iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell.

iphone se 4 modified flag edges
According to the report, Apple's ‌iPhone SE‌ models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation ‌iPhone SE‌, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6% within the first month post-launch.

This depreciation rate contrasts starkly with that of the iPhone 13, which only saw an 18.7% decrease in the same time frame. The ‌iPhone 13‌'s value stabilized after three months, a resilience not seen in the third-generation ‌iPhone SE‌, which continued to depreciate. The iPhone 14 and 15 models have also demonstrated stronger value retention compared to the third-generation ‌iPhone SE‌, further illustrating the gap between Apple's budget and flagship lines.

These trends suggest that, despite a host of rumored upgrades, the fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ may still face steeper depreciation than Apple's higher-end models. This pattern of value loss might discourage some consumers from investing in the next-generation ‌iPhone SE‌, particularly those who prioritize resale value in their purchase decision.

The faster depreciation rate of the ‌iPhone SE‌ could be attributed to several factors, including the perception of these devices as entry-level options, technological advancements that make models that use older technologies obsolete more rapidly, and consumer preference for high-end features.

The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button. It is expected to launch in 2025.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Caution)
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

jz0309 Avatar
2 weeks ago

According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings.
so, a not yet released iPhone is expected to hold its value better? this is just bizarre "news" or "rumors"
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rgwebb Avatar
2 weeks ago
You mean to tell me that the phone built with several generations old technology will not hold value like the phones often built with technology well ahead of the market?
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
2 weeks ago
Who the hell treats their phone like an investment vehicle? And if your selling your basically brand new phone to get the next one, why would you be getting an SE in the first place?

Who is this for???
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Snake111 Avatar
2 weeks ago
It’s not even out yet.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vondo Avatar
2 weeks ago
And who in their right mind cares? The SE phones, especially, are for people who want an iPhone but want to spend as little as possible. They will hold onto that phone for many years. This is what I get for my senior citizen mother and my ONLY concern is how many iOS updates the phone will get. That and physical damage set the lifetime.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Channan Avatar
2 weeks ago
So you’re telling me the next iPhone SE won’t be a good financial investment? Darn
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Bug Fixes and Security Improvements

Thursday March 21, 2024 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems. The new software comes a couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 with app changes in the European Union, new emoji, and more. iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

Seven Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Tuesday March 19, 2024 5:20 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Users Customize Layout of Home Screen App Icons

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. Home Screen on iOS 17 While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Apple's Four Upcoming AirPods Models

Friday March 22, 2024 9:03 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's rumored plan to refresh the entire AirPods lineup with a series of new models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The fourth-generation AirPods will reportedly feature a new design with a better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. For the first time ever,...
m1 vs m2 air feature toned down

Apple Silicon Vulnerability Allows Hackers to Extract Encryption Keys

Friday March 22, 2024 5:19 am PDT by
An unpatchable vulnerability has been discovered in Apple's M-series chips that allows attackers to extract secret encryption keys from Macs under certain conditions, according to a newly published academic research paper (via ArsTechnica). Named "GoFetch," the type of cyber attack described involves Data Memory-Dependent Prefetchers (DMPs), which try to predict what data the computer will...
maxresdefault

Review: Two Weeks With the M3 MacBook Air

Friday March 22, 2024 12:16 pm PDT by
The latest 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models have been available for two weeks now, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using the 15-inch version since it launched. Over on our YouTube channel, Dan shared a review now that he's been able to spend some quality time with the machine. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The M3 MacBook Air is a perfect...
combine images

Top Stories: iOS 18's Generative AI Features to Rely on Google?, Latest on New iPads, and More

Saturday March 23, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
We're getting closer to the launch of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, while rumors about iOS 18 are continuing to ramp up with this week's surprise revelation that Apple has been talking to Google and others about potentially helping power the generative AI features expected to be a major part of this year's update. Other news this week saw the release of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1...