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In the realm of smartphone ownership, a clear trend emerges: Apple iPhone owners tend to keep their devices considerably longer than Android users with well over 3.5 years. This behavior not only reflects a loyalty to the Apple ecosystem but also influences how they manage their retired phones. According to a recent survey conducted by CIRP, new phone buyers were asked about the fate of their previous devices. The survey revealed that buyers have several options for their old phones, ranging from passing them on to friends or family, trading them in, selling them on independent marketplaces, or retaining them as backups. Some owners even find themselves with non-functional devices that they must recycle or dispose of, while others may be left without a phone after losing it or having it stolen.

CIRP categorizes these alternatives into three distinct groups:

Retained: Given to a friend or family member, or kept as a backup.
Sold or traded-in: To Apple, carriers, or third-party marketplaces.
Disposed: lost, stolen, broken, recycled, or donated

Apple iPhone owners monetize old devices more effectively

The survey results highlight a significant disparity in how Apple iPhone and Android owners handle their old phones. A striking 41% of Apple iPhone owners sold or traded in their previous devices, while fewer than 20% disposed of them. In contrast, only 17% of Android owners engaged in selling or trading in their old phones, with approximately 30% disposing of them.

This trend suggests that Apple iPhone users are more adept at monetizing their retired devices. Furthermore, over half of Android owners chose to retain their old phones for friends or family or as backups, compared to about 40% of Apple iPhone owners. This indicates that monetizing an old Android phone is not as appealing, leading to a lower rate of sales or trade-ins.

The value retention of Apple iPhones

The increased likelihood of Apple iPhone owners to sell or trade in their devices can be attributed to their higher investment in these products. Apple iPhones generally maintain a better residual value, a fact supported by recent findings indicating that retired Apple iPhones are typically older than retired Android phones. This age factor plays a crucial role in the overall value retention equation for Apple iPhone owners, suggesting that their devices remain a more lucrative asset even after several years of use.