Ahead of the Galaxy S25 launch, UK-based comparison site Compare and Recycle has analyzed the trade-in values of the Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23, and S24 models. Their findings show that Samsung’s flagship smartphones have been depreciating at a slower rate over the past four generations. According to Compare and Recycle, the Samsung Galaxy S22 lost 60% of its value within the first year, followed by the S23 at 59% and the S24 at 58%. While still significant, this marks a steady improvement in value retention for Samsung’s premium devices. In contrast, Apple’s iPhone 15 series saw a sharper depreciation compared to its predecessor, dropping from 47.8% to 55.57% in a single generation. If this trend continues, the iPhone 16 series could reach a 60% depreciation rate, putting it on par with Samsung’s Galaxy S-line.
Compare and Recycle
Compare and Recycle is a UK-based comparison website that specializes in helping consumers find the best recycling options for their old electronics, particularly mobile phones. The platform aggregates offers from various recycling companies, allowing users to compare prices and services to ensure they get the best deal when recycling their devices.
High-capacity and Plus models lose the most
Among Samsung’s recent flagships, high-capacity models have shown the greatest depreciation. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 512GB lost the most value, dropping by 64% in its first year. Other significant losses include the Galaxy S23 Ultra 1TB and the S21 Plus 5G 256GB, both depreciating by 63%. The Samsung Galaxy S21 series saw an average depreciation of 57%, making it one of the better-performing lineups. The base S21 128GB model, in particular, lost just 54% of its value. The S24 Ultra 256GB also held its value well, currently fetching up to € 516 on the resale market after a first-year decline of € 678.
What this means for the Samsung Galaxy S25
The data suggests that Samsung’s flagship models are gradually closing the value retention gap with Apple. With Samsung’s recent commitment to seven years of software and security updates, future Galaxy S models could continue to hold their value better over time. If trends hold, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is expected to depreciate by 57% or less within its first year, making it one of the brand’s best-performing models in terms of resale value.
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