iPhone 17 Pro Max Resale Surge: Early Sell-Off & Value Loss Revealed

A significant number of iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones are appearing on the resale market less than a year after their global release in September 2025, according to a report from SellCell. The device currently ranks as the most traded-in phone on the independent U.S. Trade-in marketplace, with trade-in rates reaching 11.5% as of March 3, 2026.

This represents a substantial increase from the 5.1% trade-in rate recorded in November 2025, indicating a growing trend of owners seeking to recoup value from the premium device, MacRumors reported.

The SellCell data indicates that the majority – 86% – of phones being traded in are in prime or good condition, suggesting they are being sold relatively soon after their initial purchase. Trade-ins of previous iPhone Pro Max models also remain substantial, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max each accounting for 7.3% of trade-ins.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 13 also contribute significantly to the resale market, with trade-in rates of 7.2% each. But, owners are experiencing a notable loss in value when reselling these devices. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has depreciated by 25.4% since its launch approximately 145 days ago.

While substantial, this depreciation is less pronounced than that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has lost 32.5% of its value – equivalent to an additional $95 (approximately 1.6 million Indonesian Rupiah) compared to the same period for the previous generation. The iPhone 17 Pro Max originally retailed for $1,199 (approximately 20.2 million Indonesian Rupiah) six months ago, but is now fetching around $967.50 (approximately 16.3 million Indonesian Rupiah) on the resale market.

According to MacRumors, premium smartphones can function as short-term assets, readily sold when owners require funds. Apple debuted the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone Air, in September 2025, featuring the A19 chip and updated camera technology. The iPhone 17 boasts a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches in previous models, and a Ceramic Shield 2 screen offering improved scratch resistance.