iPhone owners are being urged to trade in their devices before Apple’s annual new technology announcement on Wednesday, 9th September 2026, with trade-in values expected to fall by an average of £48 and by as much as £122 for some models.
According to new data from circular economy pioneer musicMagpie, iPhone trade-in values typically take a double hit each autumn, falling immediately after the September announcement and declining further in October.
Analysis of historical trade-in performance across 26 recent models found that iPhones lose an average of 7% of their value in September, representing an immediate average cash loss of £33. Waiting until October increases the average depreciation to 10%, equivalent to a £48 reduction.
For recent handsets, defined as the iPhone 15 or newer, the current average trade-in value is £470. musicMagpie projects this to fall to £437 in September and £422 by October.
Premium models face larger cash losses
While percentage depreciation is broadly similar across baseline models, premium handsets such as Pro Max variants can suffer larger cash losses because of their higher starting values.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to experience the largest percentage drop, with a projected 20% decline and an additional £122 loss for owners who wait until October. musicMagpie also projects the model to lose £106 in value over the same two-month period.
Joe Armstrong, money saving expert and Head of Trading at musicMagpie, said: “Though we can never truly know for certain how iPhone values will be impacted by new model releases, historic data shows that a decline in value is highly likely. That’s why we conducted our analysis, to help iPhone owners get the most out of their old handset.”
“Many people will make the mistake of waiting to see what new features the next iPhone range has before trading in their old device, but our data clearly shows that waiting just a few weeks could mean a significant hit on the amount customers can get for it. Those who wait until October may see handsets drop by an average of £48 and up to £122.”
Armstrong added: “It will be interesting to see what happens to iPhone values this autumn and whether these predictions ring true. Whilst historic data predicts drops of £48 on average, chip shortages and rumours of two iPhone launches on the way could completely change traditional depreciation curves.”
How to trade in an old iPhone
Armstrong said owners looking to avoid the predicted price falls can trade in their devices now and receive cash directly into their bank accounts.
Find old and unwanted devices
Search your home for old iPhone handsets that could be sold. High-value items such as iPhones are often left in drawers, cupboards, or under the bed.
Get a free, instant valuation
Visit an online trade-in service such as musicMagpie to receive an instant valuation. Select the make, model, and condition of the device to find out how much it could be worth.
Trade in and get paid
One of the quickest ways to get paid is to take the device to the nearest Timpson store. Customers can drop off phones from the iPhone 12–17 and S23–S25 ranges, as well as networked iPads, and get paid within minutes.
Alternatively, devices can be packed in any suitable box and sent to musicMagpie for free using Royal Mail. Once the items arrive, experts check their condition and, after the checks are complete, the money is deposited directly into the customer’s bank account on the same day.
Owners can visit musicMagpie for an instant quote to find out how much they could make from old and unwanted technology.