As Samsung prepares to unveil its highly anticipated tri-fold smartphone later this year, and Apple continues testing its first foldable Apple iPhone in Taiwan, the debate around the long-term value of foldables intensifies. According to data from SellCell, an American trade-in platform tracking smartphone resale values and depreciation trends, foldable phones continue to lose value faster than standard flagship models, making them less attractive to resale buyers and trade-in programs.
Foldables lose more in the first six months
The numbers are clear. On average, foldable devices lose 62.3% of their value within the first six months, compared to 49.8% for standard flagship phones. That is a 12.5% gap. After 18 months, foldables drop by 71.1%, while standard flagships decline by 60.7%, maintaining a roughly 10% difference in value retention.
Samsung’s foldables show the steepest decline
Samsung remains the leader in foldable technology, but not in value retention. The brand’s Z Fold and Z Flip models lost 63.7% of their value within six months, compared with just 48.3% for the Galaxy S series: a gap of 15.4%. After a year, the difference remained at 11.4%, suggesting that resale markets still treat Samsung’s foldables with caution despite their popularity.
Google and OnePlus perform better
Google’s Pixel Fold performed slightly better, losing 58.1% of its value in six months compared to 56.1% for the Pixel Pro, a modest 2% gap. After a year, that difference shrank to 1.7%, showing Google’s foldables may be gaining more market trust over time.
OnePlus also demonstrated resilience. Its Open model lost 55.2% in six months, compared to 51.0% for the OnePlus 11, just 4.2% worse. After 18 months, the depreciation of both models was nearly identical, making the OnePlus Open the best-performing foldable in SellCell’s analysis.
Foldables still viewed as riskier assets
Despite their futuristic appeal, foldable phones are still perceived as riskier long-term purchases. Repairing or replacing foldable displays is considerably more expensive than servicing standard screens, and the market remains small and untested compared to traditional smartphones. This makes second-hand foldables less attractive to refurbishers and trade-in platforms.
Traditional flagships remain the safer bet
Standard flagship devices remain more reliable in both consumer and resale markets. They are easier to refurbish, hold predictable resale values, and benefit from steady demand. Foldables may represent innovation and the future of smartphone design, but in terms of value retention, they are still in the early-adopter phase. The upcoming tri-fold Samsung device and Apple’s first foldable Apple iPhone could change perceptions, but for now, foldables remain a high-risk investment when it comes to long-term resale value.
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