Device Depreciation Guide 2026
How fast does your device lose value? Research-backed depreciation rates for 13 device categories, based on analysis of 10,000+ models.
Last updated: March 2026 · Sources cited below each category
Depreciation at a Glance
| Category | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💻MacBook | −35% | −50% | −65% | 258 |
| 📱iPhone | −48% | −64% | −76% | 105 |
| 📱iPad | −35% | −50% | −68% | 53 |
| 🖥️iMac | −35% | −52% | −67% | 11 |
| 🖥️Mac Mini | −35% | −52% | −67% | 8 |
💻 MacBook Depreciation
MacBooks lose approximately 35% of their value in the first year. We track 258 macbook models with real-time pricing.
| Time | Value Lost | Value on $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo | −10% | $900 |
| 6mo | −20% | $800 |
| 9mo | −28% | $720 |
| 1yr | −35% | $650 |
| 1.5yr | −43% | $570 |
| 2yr | −50% | $500 |
| 2.5yr | −58% | $420 |
| 3yr | −65% | $350 |
Source: TechParasol MacBook Depreciation Study
Get a quote for your macbook →📱 iPhone Depreciation
iPhones lose approximately 48% of their value in the first year. We track 105 iphone models with real-time pricing.
| Time | Value Lost | Value on $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo | −18% | $820 |
| 6mo | −30% | $700 |
| 9mo | −40% | $600 |
| 1yr | −48% | $520 |
| 1.5yr | −58% | $420 |
| 2yr | −64% | $360 |
| 2.5yr | −70% | $300 |
| 3yr | −76% | $240 |
Source: SellCell Annual Depreciation Report
Get a quote for your iphone →📱 iPad Depreciation
iPads lose approximately 35% of their value in the first year. We track 53 ipad models with real-time pricing.
| Time | Value Lost | Value on $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo | −10% | $900 |
| 6mo | −20% | $800 |
| 9mo | −30% | $700 |
| 1yr | −35% | $650 |
| 1.5yr | −43% | $570 |
| 2yr | −50% | $500 |
| 2.5yr | −60% | $400 |
| 3yr | −68% | $320 |
Source: SellCell Smartphone & Tech Depreciation Report 2022
Get a quote for your ipad →🖥️ iMac Depreciation
iMacs lose approximately 35% of their value in the first year. We track 11 imac models with real-time pricing.
| Time | Value Lost | Value on $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo | −10% | $900 |
| 6mo | −18% | $820 |
| 9mo | −27% | $730 |
| 1yr | −35% | $650 |
| 1.5yr | −44% | $560 |
| 2yr | −52% | $480 |
| 2.5yr | −60% | $400 |
| 3yr | −67% | $330 |
Source: MaKaiTeeTum Apple Device Depreciation Comparison
Get a quote for your imac →🖥️ Mac Mini Depreciation
Mac Minis lose approximately 35% of their value in the first year. We track 8 mac mini models with real-time pricing.
| Time | Value Lost | Value on $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo | −10% | $900 |
| 6mo | −18% | $820 |
| 9mo | −27% | $730 |
| 1yr | −35% | $650 |
| 1.5yr | −44% | $560 |
| 2yr | −52% | $480 |
| 2.5yr | −60% | $400 |
| 3yr | −67% | $330 |
Source: MaKaiTeeTum Apple Device Depreciation Comparison
Get a quote for your mac mini →When to Sell for Maximum Value
iPhones: Sell in July or August, before Apple announces new models in September. Prices drop approximately 15% on announcement day alone.
MacBooks: Sell before WWDC (June) or Apple's fall event (October). New chip generations cause the biggest drops in older model values.
Gaming Laptops: Sell before new GPU launches from NVIDIA (typically January at CES) or AMD. New GPU generations make older models obsolete faster than any other category.
General rule: Every month you wait, your device loses 2-5% more value. The best time to sell is always today.
Methodology
Depreciation rates are compiled from peer-reviewed market research including SellCell's annual Smartphone & Tech Depreciation Report, TechParasol's MacBook Depreciation Study, the Federal Reserve's tablet pricing research, and TechTimes' ownership cost analysis.
Rates represent average resale value loss for devices in good condition. Actual depreciation varies by specific model, storage capacity, condition, and market demand. Higher-spec and Pro models typically depreciate slower than base models.
This guide is updated quarterly. We track real-time buyback prices across 10,000+ device models to validate and refine our depreciation curves.
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