Phone Depreciation in India 2026
Brand-by-Brand Guide & When to Sell for Maximum Cash
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40% Avg Android loss yr 1 |
25-30% Apple yr-1 loss |
70%+ Infinix 2-year loss |
6-14 months Golden Window |
25% Lost after launch day |
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QUICK ANSWER — What is Phone Depreciation in India? Smartphone depreciation is the rate at which your phone loses resale value over time. In India in 2026, the average Android phone loses approximately 40-50% of its value in the first year alone. Apple iPhones are the exception, losing only 25-30% in year one. The single most important thing you can do to maximise value: sell within the Golden Window - typically 6 to 14 months after purchase, at least 4-6 weeks before the next model is announced. Get your phone's current value in 60 seconds at reuz.in/sell. |
1. Why Phone Depreciation Matters More Than Ever in India in 2026
Smartphones are now among the largest discretionary purchases Indian households make. Flagship phones regularly cost Rs.60,000 - Rs.1,30,000, and mid-range devices run Rs.20,000 - Rs.40,000. Yet most buyers treat their phone like a consumable rather than an asset. The result: thousands of rupees left on the table at trade-in time.
Consider this: smartphones lose up to 20% of their value every 6 months. A phone bought for Rs.60,000 today could be worth Rs.36,000 in 12 months and Rs.22,000 in 18 months - a Rs.38,000 loss in a year and a half. Selling at month 8 instead of month 18 could recover Rs.15,000-Rs.18,000 more.
Three things make 2026 uniquely important for Indian phone sellers:
• Flagship prices hit all-time highs — iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs.1,64,900. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra at Rs.1,29,999. Higher launch prices mean higher absolute depreciation in rupees.
• New launches are more frequent — In Q1 2026 alone, iQOO Z11x, Vivo T5x, OPPO K14, POCO X8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy A57/A37 launched. Each new launch puts downward pressure on older phone values.
• Buyers are more informed — In 2026, buyers actively check battery health, remaining update years, and clean data removal. An ill-prepared phone now fetches measurably less than before.
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India-Specific Context On average, smartphones lose about 40% of their value in the first 12 months. By the end of year two, this rises to approximately 65%. Brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus retain value better due to build quality, demand, and brand reputation. Metro cities consistently command 5-12% better prices than Tier-2 cities - but Reuz.in's national pricing engine eliminates this geographic gap entirely. |
2. Brand-by-Brand Depreciation Rates in India — 2026 Master Table
This is the table no competitor has built for India in 2026. Use it to instantly understand where your phone brand sits on the depreciation curve — and when you need to act.
|
Brand |
Yr 1 Loss |
Yr 2 Loss |
Value Retained |
Golden Window |
Best Segment |
Rating |
|
Apple (iPhone) |
25-30% |
40-50% |
70-75% |
8-14 months |
All models |
Best |
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Samsung Galaxy S |
50-60% |
65-73% |
40-50% |
6-10 months |
S-series, Ultra |
Good |
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OnePlus |
45-55% |
60-68% |
45-55% |
6-12 months |
12, 13 series |
Good |
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Google Pixel |
48-58% |
62-70% |
42-52% |
6-10 months |
Pro models |
Good |
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Xiaomi / Redmi |
50-62% |
65-73% |
38-50% |
5-9 months |
Note Pro best |
Average |
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Realme |
55-65% |
68-75% |
35-45% |
4-8 months |
GT series only |
Below Avg. |
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Vivo / iQOO |
50-60% |
65-72% |
40-50% |
5-9 months |
iQOO Neo best |
Average |
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Infinix / Tecno |
60-70% |
75-80%+ |
20-35% |
3-5 months |
All very poor |
Worst |
Data compiled from Reuz.in transaction data, Cashify market analysis, InstaCash reports, ecoATM 2026 data, and SellCell Live Depreciation Calculator. March 2026.
3. Apple iPhone — India's Best Phone Resale Investment
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Year 1 Loss 25-30% |
Year 2 Loss 40-50% |
Value Retained @ 1yr 70-75% |
Golden Window 8-14 months |
Sell Before August |
iPhone 15 and 16 Pro models retain over 70% of their value after one year. In India specifically, this effect is amplified by import duties that keep the supply of new iPhones constrained — strong demand from aspirational buyers who can't afford new models drives robust used iPhone prices. A two-year-old iPhone typically keeps 40-60% of its original price in India. Most comparable Android flagships keep only 20-35%.
The key pattern unique to India: Pro Max models consistently hold value best in each generation. If you own an iPhone 15 Pro Max or 16 Pro Max, your resale value retention is even higher than the numbers suggest. If buying an iPhone with future resale in mind, the Pro Max is almost always the smarter financial choice.
The critical timing rule for iPhone sellers in India: sell before the September Apple event. Apple announces new iPhones every September, and iPhone resale values drop 15-20% in the 2 weeks following the announcement.
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Reuz.in Advice: If you own an iPhone 13, 14, or 15, sell before August 2026. The iPhone 18 announcement in September will trigger the sharpest single-month value drop your phone will experience this year. Right now, in March-April 2026, iPhone values are near their 2026 peak. Visit reuz.in/sell to get your instant quote. |
4. Samsung Galaxy — Strong Brand, Faster Value Drop
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Year 1 Loss (S-series) 50-60% |
Year 2 Loss 65-73% |
Value Retained @ 1yr 40-50% |
Golden Window 6-10 months |
Sell Before December |
Samsung has the strongest brand equity of any Android manufacturer in India — and this shows in resale. The Galaxy S and Ultra models offer cutting-edge cameras, displays, and now AI features. But despite high launch prices, they lose value faster than iPhones.
Live depreciation data from SellCell in 2026 shows a Samsung Galaxy S24 128GB has depreciated by 73.1% since launch. The S25 series, while newer, is depreciating at 58.1% and 64.5% if sold in good condition — higher than iPhones at the same lifecycle stage.
An important nuance: the A-series (A55, A56, A57) depreciates considerably faster than the S-series — losing 55-68% in year one versus 50-60% for the flagship range. If you own a Galaxy A-series phone, your Golden Window is shorter. Sell within 5-8 months of purchase.
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Reuz.in Advice: Samsung Galaxy S24/S25 owners — sell before December 2026, ahead of the Galaxy S27 announcement expected in January 2027. Every year beyond month 12 costs an additional 8-12% in resale value. Get your instant Samsung quote at reuz.in/sell. |
5. OnePlus — Best Android Resale After Pixel
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Year 1 Loss 45-55% |
Year 2 Loss 60-68% |
Value Retained @ 1yr 45-55% |
Golden Window 6-12 months |
Sell Before May 2026 |
OnePlus punches above its weight in Indian resale markets. Clean OxygenOS software, a loyal enthusiast fanbase, and strong brand recognition built over a decade in India means used OnePlus flagship phones command solid prices. The OnePlus 12 5G bought for Rs.64,999 new can still sell for Rs.28,000-Rs.32,000 at the right time — a 45-56% depreciation that beats Samsung by 10+ percentage points at the same lifecycle stage.
Critical split: flagship OnePlus phones (numbered series) hold value well, while Nord CE and Nord budget phones depreciate like Realme — losing 60-70% within a year. Always check which sub-brand your phone belongs to before estimating resale value.
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Reuz.in Advice: OnePlus flagship sellers — the window before the OnePlus 15T launch (expected May-June 2026) is your Golden Window. Sell your OnePlus 12 or 13 now. Get your instant OnePlus quote at reuz.in/sell. |
6. Xiaomi / Redmi — Note Series Has Surprising Resilience
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Year 1 Loss 50-62% |
Year 2 Loss 65-73% |
Value Retained @ 1yr 38-50% |
Golden Window 5-9 months |
Sell Before Successor launch |
Xiaomi and Redmi have India's highest smartphone market volume — which cuts both ways for resale. The Redmi Note series launches a new model approximately every 8-10 months, compressing the Golden Window significantly. A Redmi Note 13 Pro was worth Rs.8,000-Rs.11,000 in good condition as of March 2026, after being purchased for Rs.26,999 — a 59-70% drop in under 18 months.
The exception: the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra — Xiaomi's premium flagships — depreciate more like Samsung Galaxy S-series (50-60% in year one) due to Leica-tuned cameras and strong positioning in the premium segment.
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Reuz.in Advice: Redmi Note series owners — your Golden Window is very short: 5 to 8 months. The Redmi Note 15 launched in early 2026. If you own a Note 13 or Note 14, sell now before values fall further. Get your instant Redmi quote at reuz.in/sell. |
7. Realme — Fast Depreciation, Short Golden Window
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Year 1 Loss 55-65% |
Year 2 Loss 68-75% |
Value Retained @ 1yr 35-45% |
Golden Window 4-8 months |
Sell Before 6 months |
Realme is one of the most aggressive phone launchers in India — releasing multiple new models across price segments every quarter. This devastates resale prices. Most Realme phones in the Rs.15,000-Rs.25,000 segment lose 55-65% within 12 months. Smartphones from newly established brands like Realme lost 60% of their value over the equivalent period compared to Apple's 40%.
The Realme GT series (GT 7T, GT 6) fares better — closer to 45-55% depreciation in year one — due to flagship-grade processors and Realme's increasingly serious premium positioning. GT series owners are in better shape than P or C series owners.
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Reuz.in Advice: Realme owners — act fast. The Golden Window is 4-8 months from purchase. If your Realme is more than 8 months old, every additional month costs significantly more value. Get your Realme instant quote now at reuz.in/sell. |
8. Infinix — India's Fastest-Depreciating Mainstream Brand
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Year 1 Loss 60-70% |
Year 2 Loss 75-80%+ |
Value Retained @ 1yr 20-35% |
Golden Window 3-5 months |
Sell Before 4 months |
Infinix is the fastest-depreciating smartphone brand in India in 2026, with resale values dropping by a huge margin. Infinix generally launches many phones in a short span of time without big upgrades, lacks in providing good after-sales support, and spare parts are barely available in the market. Despite occasionally interesting hardware, the brand's resale ecosystem in India is severely underdeveloped.
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Reuz.in Advice: If you own an Infinix phone, sell now. Every additional month costs 5-8% of its remaining value. The GT series has slightly better prospects, but the overall brand dynamics are challenging. Get your Infinix quote at reuz.in/sell today. |
9. The Golden Window — Brand-by-Brand Timing Guide for 2026
The 'Golden Window' is the optimal period to sell your phone for maximum value — after sufficient use, but before depreciation accelerates sharply. The best time to sell a phone in 2026 often falls between January and April, before depreciation accelerates further.
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Phone Model |
Golden Window |
Sell Before |
March 2026 Status |
Action |
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iPhone 13 |
Passed (2021-2022) |
Before Sept annually |
Past ideal window |
Sell immediately |
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iPhone 14 |
Oct 2022 - Aug 2023 |
Before Sept 2026 |
Sell before Sept |
Sell by July 2026 |
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iPhone 15 / 15 Pro |
Oct 2023 - Aug 2024 |
Before Sept 2026 |
Strong window now |
Sell Mar-May 2026 |
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iPhone 16 series |
Oct 2024 - Aug 2025 |
Before Sept 2026 |
Good window now |
Sell May-Aug 2026 |
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Samsung Galaxy S23 |
Feb 2023 - Jan 2024 |
Before Jan annually |
Well past ideal |
Sell immediately |
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Samsung Galaxy S24 |
Jan 2024 - Dec 2024 |
Before Jan 2027 |
Fading window |
Sell by Oct 2026 |
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Samsung Galaxy S25 |
Jan 2025 - Dec 2025 |
Before Jan 2027 |
Still good window |
Sell Mar-Aug 2026 |
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OnePlus 12 5G |
Jan 2024 - Dec 2024 |
Before 15T launch |
Sell before May 2026 |
Act now |
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OnePlus 13 5G |
Jan 2025 - Oct 2025 |
Before OnePlus 15 |
Good window now |
Sell Mar-Jun 2026 |
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Redmi Note 13 Pro |
Jan 2024 - Sep 2024 |
Before Note 15 launch |
Well past ideal |
Sell immediately |
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Redmi Note 14 Pro |
Oct 2024 - Jul 2025 |
Before Note 16 launch |
Fading quickly |
Sell within 60 days |
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Realme GT series |
6-10 months from launch |
Before successor |
Check launch dates |
Compare quotes now |
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Any Infinix model |
0-5 months max |
ASAP |
Sell immediately |
Don't wait |
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March-April 2026 Is a Particularly Strong Selling Window March and early Q1 consistently represent peak resale season. Sellers who act strategically often secure higher resale prices. The wave of new April launches (Samsung A57/A37, POCO X8 Pro) is actively driving demand from buyers looking to upgrade — making right now an ideal seller's market. |
10. Does Storage Variant Affect Resale Price? (Yes — More Than You Think)
This is one of the most overlooked factors in phone resale in India. Higher storage variants consistently command better resale prices, and the premium is often larger than the original cost difference at purchase.
|
Phone Model |
128 GB Resale |
256 GB Resale |
512 GB Resale |
Storage Premium at Resale |
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iPhone 15 |
~Rs.36,000 |
~Rs.41,000 |
~Rs.47,000 |
Rs.5,000-Rs.11,000 more |
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iPhone 14 |
~Rs.28,000 |
~Rs.32,500 |
~Rs.36,000 |
Rs.4,500-Rs.8,000 more |
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Samsung Galaxy S24 |
~Rs.32,000 |
~Rs.37,000 |
~Rs.42,000 |
Rs.5,000-Rs.10,000 more |
|
OnePlus 13 5G |
~Rs.29,000 |
~Rs.34,000 |
--- |
Rs.5,000 more |
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Redmi Note 14 Pro |
~Rs.9,500 |
~Rs.11,500 |
--- |
Rs.2,000 more |
The practical implication: when buying your next phone, always choose at least 256 GB storage — even if you don't immediately need it. The incremental cost at purchase is typically Rs.2,000-Rs.4,000, but the resale premium is Rs.4,000-Rs.11,000. You recover your extra investment and then some.
11. Does City Affect Resale Value? Metro vs Tier-2 India
Yes — and the gap is larger than most sellers realise. Mobile phone resale values vary considerably across Indian cities, with metropolitan areas like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru typically offering higher resale prices than Tier-2 and Tier-3 counterparts.
• Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai: Full market price — these cities set the benchmark. iPhone demand is exceptionally high in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
• Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh: 3-7% below metro prices on average. Samsung and OnePlus flagships perform well here.
• Surat, Nagpur, Indore, Bhopal, Coimbatore: 5-10% below metro prices for flagships. Budget phones sell at closer to metro prices due to higher local demand.
• Smaller cities and towns: 10-15% below metro prices for flagship phones.
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How Reuz.in Solves the City Gap Reuz.in's pricing engine is calibrated to India-wide demand — not your local city's dynamics. Whether you are in Nagpur or Mumbai, you receive a price based on national market demand. For sellers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, this often represents a 5-12% better offer than local shops — simply by selling through a national platform. Check coverage and get your instant quote at reuz.in/sell. |
12. 5 Factors That Affect Your Phone's Resale Value Beyond Brand
1. Battery Health — The Single Biggest Functional Factor
Battery condition is one of the biggest price drivers today. Buyers want batteries that hold at least 85% of original capacity. For iPhones, battery health below 80% can reduce the offer by Rs.2,000-Rs.5,000. If your battery health is between 76-79%, consider a Rs.1,500-Rs.2,500 battery replacement before selling — it typically pays for itself in full.
2. Screen Condition — Cracks Cost More Than You Expect
A cracked screen reduces resale value by 20-40%. A mid-range phone worth Rs.15,000 in good condition drops to Rs.9,000-Rs.12,000 with a crack. For a flagship iPhone 14 worth Rs.30,000, a crack reduces it to Rs.18,000-Rs.22,000. If screen repair costs less than 40% of the expected resale gain, it is worth repairing before selling.
3. Software Update Lifespan Remaining
Extended software updates mean phones stay functional and secure longer. Buyers in 2026 actively check how many OS updates a phone will still receive. An iPhone with 4 years of updates left commands significantly more than an Android phone with 1 year remaining.
4. Original Box and Accessories
Having the original box, charger, cable, and earphones adds Rs.500-Rs.2,000 to your offer on most platforms. Keep your phone box when you buy — it's one of the easiest Rs.2,000 you'll ever earn at resale time.
5. Timing Relative to New Launches
A few weeks before an anticipated new model launch is often the ideal time to sell. When Apple, Samsung or OnePlus announce new devices, current device values start decreasing immediately. As per PolicyGenius, before the arrival of a new model, your phone can achieve up to 25% more than it would after the launch.
13. Frequently Asked Questions
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Which phone brand has the highest resale value in India in 2026? Apple has the highest resale value of any smartphone brand in India in 2026. iPhones lose only 25-30% of their value in the first year, compared to 40-60% for Android brands. A two-year-old iPhone typically keeps 40-60% of its original price. Most Android flagships of the same age retain only 20-35%. This makes iPhones the smartest investment from a resale perspective in the Indian market. |
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Which phone brand loses value the fastest in India? Infinix is the fastest-depreciating smartphone brand in India, losing over 70% in under two years. Among mainstream brands, Realme follows closely at 55-65% in year one. Owners of these brands should sell as quickly as possible — ideally within 3-6 months of purchase. |
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When is the best time to sell my phone in India for maximum cash? The best time is the Golden Window: 6 to 14 months after purchase, and at least 4-6 weeks before the next model is announced. For iPhones: sell before August. For Samsung S-series: sell before December. For OnePlus: sell before May. For Redmi Note: sell within 5-8 months of purchase. March 2026 is an excellent time to sell many models. |
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Does higher storage mean a higher resale price in India? Yes, significantly. A 256 GB iPhone 15 sells for approximately Rs.5,000 more than the 128 GB model at resale. For Samsung Galaxy S24, the 256 GB variant commands Rs.5,000 more than the 128 GB model after one year. Always choose 256 GB minimum when buying — the extra purchase cost is typically recovered in full at resale. |
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Does it matter which city I sell my phone in India? Local prices vary — metro cities offer 5-12% better prices for flagships. However, selling through a national platform like Reuz.in eliminates this geographic disadvantage entirely — your phone is priced against national demand, not just your local market. This gives sellers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities access to the same prices as Mumbai and Bengaluru. |
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How much does a cracked screen reduce my phone's resale value in India? A cracked screen reduces resale value by 20-40%. A mid-range phone worth Rs.15,000 intact drops to Rs.9,000-Rs.12,000 with a crack. For a flagship like iPhone 14 worth Rs.30,000, a crack reduces it to Rs.18,000-Rs.22,000. If screen repair costs less than 40% of the expected resale gain, repair before selling. |
14. More Selling Guides on Reuz.in
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How to Get the Best Price for Your Old Phone in India (2026 Complete Guide) - https://www.reuz.in/blog/how-to-get-best-price-selling-old-phone-india-2026 |
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Best Phones Between Rs.20,000-Rs.30,000 in India (2026) - https://www.reuz.in/blog/best-phones-between-20000-to-30000-india-2026 |
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Best 5G Phones Under Rs.20,000 in India - March 2026 - https://www.reuz.in/blog/best-5g-phones-under-20000-india-march-2026 |
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Most Anticipated Upcoming Phones India - April & May 2026 - https://www.reuz.in/blog/most-anticipated-upcoming-phones-india-april-may-2026 |
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Sell Your Phone Now - Instant Quote - https://www.reuz.in/sell |
15. Sources & External References
