iPhone 17 Pro Max Leads Trade In Market Despite Recent Launch

Daily Technology

·

19/02/2026

ADVERTISEMENT

Fresh numbers from the resale market show that, only weeks after launch, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is already the phone most often sent to trade in services. Normally a brand new flagship needs months, even years, to reach the top of that list.

SellCell, a price comparison site that collects offers from forty independent buy back companies, says the 17 Pro Max now sits in 11.5 % of all slots within the top twenty trade-in chart. Twelve weeks earlier the same model filled 5.1 % of those slots. SellCell also grades each incoming unit; 86 % of the 17 Pro Max phones arrived labeled “mint” or “good” which indicates that owners sell them almost straight after purchase.

ADVERTISEMENT

Older flagships occupy smaller slices - the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max each claim about 7.3 % of current trade ins, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 hover near 7.2 %. No earlier Pro Max reached first place this fast - most models climb the resale chart only when mass upgrades push them there after long periods on the market.

Value retention helps explain the rush - during the first 145 days on sale the 17 Pro Max dropped 25.4 % from its launch price. The 16 Pro Max lost roughly 32.5 % over the same stretch. The seven-percentage-point gap equals about ninety five dollars that the newer phone keeps in the owner's pocket.

ADVERTISEMENT

Buy-back sites now pay around 967.50 dollars for a mint 17 Pro Max. Analysts state that this high payout, not dissatisfaction with the hardware, drives people to cash in early. In tight economic spells a premium handset works like a portable store of value - owners convert it to cash while the resale price remains close to retail. The 17 Pro Max leads trade in tables because it holds money better than it holds pocket lint.

Recommend

Sony's WH-CH520 Headphones Now a Steal at $38, Significantly Undercutting AirPods Max

Sony's WH-CH520 wireless headphones are on sale for $38 on Amazon, offering a comfortable and customizable audio experience at a fraction of the cost of premium alternatives like AirPods Max.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nintendo Switch 2 File Sizes Revealed: 'Dispatch' and 'They Are Billions' Among Early Listings

Discover the file sizes for upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games like 'Dispatch' and 'They Are Billions', alongside current Switch title sizes revealed through eShop listings.

Fujifilm's Instax Mini Evo Cinema Camera: A Nostalgic Journey Through Time

Explore Fujifilm's new Instax Mini Evo Cinema camera, which combines vintage design with modern features to capture and print photos and videos with a retro aesthetic from different decades.

Key Industry Trends from the Shutdown of MKBHD’s Panels App

Discover key industry trends from the rise and fall of MKBHD's Panels app: monetization challenges, creator influence, open sourcing, and responsible app shutdowns.

ADVERTISEMENT

SpaceX Lifts Off Space Force's X-37B Spaceplane for New Military Test Mission

Watch live as SpaceX launches the U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane on its eighth military test mission, carrying advanced laser communications and quantum navigation technology.

Samsung Galaxy Phones to Feature AI Notification Summaries, Following Apple's Lead

Samsung is set to introduce AI notification summaries in its One UI 8.5 update for Galaxy phones, leveraging Google's AI models to condense messages and group chats.

Unraveling the Health Impact: Scientists Tackle Microplastic Detection in the Human Body

Discover how scientists are working to determine if microplastics found throughout the human body are truly harming our health, and the challenges involved in this critical research.

ADVERTISEMENT

Apple Gears Up for AI Search Revolution with ChatGPT-Like Technology

Apple is reportedly developing a ChatGPT-like AI search experience to provide instant answers, potentially impacting its deal with Google and the broader AI market.

Andy Cohen on AI: A Tool of Convenience, A Threat to Intellect

Andy Cohen discusses his surprising use of AI for daily tasks while expressing deep concerns about its potential to foster laziness and diminish critical thinking in future generations.

Apple Creator Studio Suite: Key Trends Shaping the Creative Software Industry

Apple Creator Studio shakes up the creative software market by bundling pro tools at an affordable price, challenging Adobe’s dominance.

ADVERTISEMENT