iPhone Air Value Crashes Nearly 50 Percent in Just 10 Weeks
A Sudden Drop That Shakes the Used Smartphone Market
The used smartphone market in Southeast Asia is facing an unexpected shock as new data reveals a dramatic decline in the resale value of the iPhone Air. According to recent evaluations gathered from over forty major US buyback services, the iPhone Air has become one of the fastest depreciating Apple devices in recent years. Some storage variants have already lost almost half their value within the first ten weeks after launch, marking a clear contrast from the more stable iPhone 17 Series.
While the iPhone 17 Series maintains a relatively strong presence in the secondary market with an average depreciation of 34.6 percent after ten weeks, the iPhone Air has taken a far steeper dive. This performance is more favorable than the previous iPhone 16, which dropped around 39 percent during the same period, and places the iPhone 17 Series just behind the iPhone 15, which remains Apple’s strongest value holder in recent years at 31.9 percent. The numbers highlight a continued preference for core flagship models among buyers searching for reliable long term value.
The downturn becomes even more apparent when focusing specifically on the iPhone Air line. The model now averages a depreciation of 44.3 percent across all storage options, with some units dropping between 40.3 percent and 47.7 percent. This places the iPhone Air among the weakest performers since the days of the iPhone 14 Plus and the lower performing versions of the iPhone 13 mini from 2022. The steepest decline was recorded in the 1TB version of the iPhone Air, which analysts identified as the single most rapidly devalued model in the entire data set.
The difference between the Pro and Air categories is especially striking. The iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB shows the least depreciation at only 26.1 percent, and all models within the Pro and Pro Max lines remain under the 40 percent depreciation mark. Their stability reflects continuing demand and strong buyer confidence in the premium lineup. Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 17 models depreciate between 32.9 percent and 40.8 percent, keeping them collectively around 9.7 percent more stable than the Air after ten weeks.
In the rankings covering the first ten weeks, the iPhone Air consistently occupies the bottom of the chart without competition. At the same time, the pricing curve for the iPhone 17 Series is beginning to level out, following a familiar pattern seen with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 in previous years. The iPhone Air, however, continues to experience downward movement with no signs of stabilizing as it approaches the ten week threshold.
Market analysts believe the unusual depreciation of the iPhone Air could reflect deeper consumer uncertainty around the model’s positioning and long term value perception. The outcome places the iPhone Air as a standout case study, demonstrating the risks associated with mid tier Apple devices compared to flagship models that retain value more reliably within the same timeframe.
THIS IS OUR SAY
The rapid decline of the iPhone Air’s value reveals a clear message for both consumers and the industry. Buyers still trust Apple’s flagship line far more than its mid tier offerings, and this pricing crash proves that not every new model secures long term value. The iPhone Air’s trajectory will likely influence future purchasing habits, especially in Southeast Asia where resale value strongly affects buying decisions. If Apple intends for the Air line to survive, it will need a sharper identity and stronger market confidence.
