Foldable smartphones have been making waves in the tech world, with companies like Honor, Samsung, and Google pushing the boundaries of design and durability. These devices are becoming increasingly sleek and lightweight while offering expansive foldable screens, capturing the attention of consumers.
Samsung recently teased a tri-fold device with three screens that unfolds into a tablet-style display, hinting at the innovative future of smartphones. Rumors suggest that Apple might also enter the foldable market with a foldable iPhone next year, potentially further popularizing this technology.
Despite the excitement surrounding foldables, potential buyers should be cautious. SellCell, a trade-in platform, warns that foldable phones tend to lose their resale value much quicker than traditional smartphones. On average, foldable devices depreciate by about 62.3% within six months of release, compared to 49.8% for non-foldable flagships, indicating a substantial difference in short-term value retention.
Over an 18-month period, foldables lose around 71.1% of their value, while non-foldables depreciate by 60.7%, illustrating a long-term trend of foldables losing value at a faster rate. Samsung, in particular, has experienced significant price drops in its foldable devices compared to its standard Galaxy S series.
SellCell attributes the rapid depreciation of foldables to their novelty in the market and the perception that non-foldables are more reliable and easier to repair. Repairing foldable screens is also notably more expensive than traditional displays, making second-hand foldable models less attractive for resale or trade-ins.
While foldables represent the future of technology, they are still considered early-adopter products in terms of value retention. Consumers should weigh the excitement of owning a foldable device against the potential financial implications of its rapid depreciation in the resale market.