The Best Time to Sell Your iPhone in 2026

Selling your iPhone at the wrong time can cost you real money. The difference between selling six months before a new model launch and six months after can easily be $100–$200 or more depending on the model. Understanding how iPhone resale values move throughout the year gives you an edge — and it's not complicated once you know the patterns.

The September Effect: Apple's Annual Release Cycle

Apple announces new iPhone models every September, typically in the first or second week of the month. This is the single most important date on the iPhone resale calendar.

Before the announcement: Demand for current-generation iPhones remains high. Prices are near their seasonal peak. If you're planning to sell before upgrading, the window of late July through early September — before any official announcement — is generally when you'll see your best offer.

The day of the announcement: Prices begin dropping immediately, sometimes within hours of the keynote. Even before the new model ships, buyers know what's coming and start discounting current-gen devices.

After the new model releases (usually late September): A second price drop often occurs as new iPhones hit shelves and used versions of the previous model flood the market from people who upgraded. Values can drop another 10–20% in this window.

Practical takeaway: If you know you want to upgrade every year, sell your current iPhone in August — before the announcement. You'll be without a phone for a few weeks, but the price difference can be meaningful.

Early Depreciation: The First Year Is the Steepest

New iPhones depreciate most rapidly in their first year. An iPhone 16 Pro Max bought at $1,199 might be worth $850 six months later and $600 twelve months later — and then the September announcement accelerates that further.

This means: the longer you wait to sell, the less you get. If you're on the fence about whether to sell now or hold onto a phone "for a while longer," now is almost always the financially smarter choice.

Tax Refund Season: A Small Demand Bump

February through April tends to see a modest uptick in demand for used iPhones as buyers receive tax refunds and look for deals. This doesn't represent a huge price swing, but it does mean slightly more competition among buyers, which can support prices. If you're selling a phone that's been sitting in a drawer, this window is a reasonable time to act.

The Holiday Trap: High Demand, High Supply

The November–December holiday season is counterintuitive. Demand for iPhones is high — people are buying gifts — but supply is equally high, because millions of people upgrade during the holidays and then list their old devices for sale at the same time. This flood of supply tends to keep resale prices flat or slightly depressed during the holiday period, despite strong demand.

If you upgraded around the holidays, don't rush to sell during December. Consider waiting until January or February, when supply levels off and demand from tax refund shoppers starts building.

The Unlocking Window

Carrier-locked iPhones are worth less than unlocked ones. If you bought your iPhone on a carrier installment plan, you may be able to request an unlock from your carrier once the device is fully paid off. An unlocked iPhone typically fetches $30–$80 more than the same device locked to a carrier, depending on the model. Before selling, check your carrier's unlocking policy — it's a five-minute process that can add meaningful value to your offer.

Summary: When to Sell

The best time to sell is almost always sooner. If you have an iPhone you're not using, every month you wait costs you money.