Resale Value Gap Between iPhones and Galaxy Continues to Widen

It’s no secret that Apple has unmatched popularity in the smartphone space. In the premium category, iPhones dominate market share by a huge margin. Even as Samsung’s Galaxy S phones grow in popularity, iPhones remain unbeatable. Making the situation worse for Samsung, Apple is now pulling ahead in resale value as well.

iPhones hold their value longer than Samsung Galaxy flagships

While Apple and Samsung had nearly identical shares in the global smartphone market in 2025, the picture is starkly different when you zoom in on the premium segment. Multiple industry reports highlight that Apple controls the lion’s share of the premium category. Nearly 60% of phones priced $400 or above are iPhones. That share almost touches 80% in the $1000+ segment.

While premium market share tells one part of the story, resale value paints another: used iPhones retain substantially more value than used Samsung devices. As of late December 2025, the average used iPhone was trading at roughly $485, compared with only about $130 for a Samsung handset. This means iPhones hold nearly four times the resale value. That gap has widened year on year, underscoring Apple’s advantage in perceived long-term value.

Of course, Samsung’s heavy discounting practices and broad portfolio (including many lower-end models) dilute resale value. However, the gap in depreciation rates in the premium segment is no different. In South Korea, the iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) saw a price drop of just 8.8% dive mo ths after its launch. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra‘s price dropped by 35.6% during the same period. The depreciation rate of Galaxy flagships is nearly four times that of iPhones.

Samsung remains a crucial player in the industry and the world’s largest Android smartphone maker. Its Galaxy S and Z Fold/Flip lineups are respected and often best-in-class in terms of hardware and features. However, the rapid value drop of Galaxy flagships is concerning. Whether this market trend will change in the coming years remains to be seen.