A new resale analysis suggests Apple's first foldable iPhone could lose nearly $1,300 in value during its first year, based on current market trends. The SellCell study estimates a $2,000 foldable would depreciate to roughly $708 after 12 months, representing a 64.6% loss—the steepest rate among all smartphone categories.

Foldable phones currently lose value faster than traditional smartphones, retaining only 35.4% of their launch price after a year compared to 44.7% for non-folding models. The analysis, which examined flagship devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and OnePlus, found foldable owners lose an average of $997.69 versus $605.32 for traditional phone owners.

Despite this grim outlook, Apple historically outperforms competitors in resale value retention. The iPhone 16 lineup kept 51.5% of its value last year, the highest rate in the study. If the foldable follows similar depreciation patterns, it could retain around $1,030—still a loss of nearly $1,000 but $300 better than typical foldables. The device, expected in fall 2026 as the iPhone Ultra, will likely face real-world depreciation closer to Apple's existing performance.