Every year, Apple fans line up for the latest iPhone. If the newly announced iPhone Duo launches at $1,999 to $2,500, that excitement could come with a very high price tag.
But there may be a better way to buy one.
We track refurbished smartphone prices daily, and Samsung's foldables offer a pretty clear lesson: waiting can save you a lot of money.
What Samsung foldables actually depreciate to
Foldables tend to lose value quickly once they hit the used and refurbished market. TechShave's latest eBay Renewed medians for excellent-condition devices show just how steep that drop can be:
Book-style: Galaxy Z Fold
| Generation | Age | Launch MSRP | Excellent median | Off MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z Fold4 | 2022 (4 yrs) | $1,799 | ~$449 | 75% |
| Z Fold5 | 2023 (3 yrs) | $1,799 | ~$490 | 73% |
| Z Fold6 | 2024 (2 yrs) | $1,899 | ~$938 | 51% |
The Z Fold6 has already lost about half its launch price. Go back another year or two and the numbers get even more dramatic: the Z Fold4 and Z Fold5 are now around $450–490, compared with their original $1,800 price tags.
Clamshell: Galaxy Z Flip
| Generation | Age | Launch MSRP | Excellent median | Off MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z Flip4 | 2022 (4 yrs) | $999 | ~$225 | 78% |
| Z Flip5 | 2023 (3 yrs) | $999 | ~$310 | 69% |
| Z Flip6 | 2024 (2 yrs) | $1,099 | ~$566 | 49% |
The smaller Z Flip line has seen even steeper depreciation. A Z Flip4 at around $225 costs less than many mid-range phones today, despite launching at $999.
The pattern: a big drop, then a floor
Looking across Samsung's foldable prices, a pattern starts to emerge:
- First 6 months: Prices usually fall around 10–20% as early adopters start trading in their phones.
- Year 1–2: The drop accelerates as newer models arrive and more previous-generation phones enter the refurbished market.
- Year 2–4: Prices start to settle. Older generations can reach 70–78% off MSRP, while newer models can still be around 45–55% off.
There are some bumps along the way. For example, the Z Flip5 moved from roughly $237 to $310 during our shorter price-history window. Refurbished medians can move around depending on the mix of listings available at any given time.
The bigger trend, however, is hard to miss: Samsung's foldables get dramatically cheaper with time.
So what could that mean for the iPhone Duo?
If Apple launches it at $2,000, a 50% drop would put a refurbished model around $1,000 within two years. A 75% drop, similar to what we're seeing with older Samsung foldables, would put it closer to $500.
Apple's first foldable could hold its value better than Samsung's, so we wouldn't assume a 75% drop will happen. But even a more modest decline could still mean significant savings.
Waiting 12–18 months could potentially save hundreds of dollars — and possibly $800 or more compared with paying full launch price.
Why foldables depreciate faster than regular iPhones
There are a few reasons.
1. The technology is changing quickly.
Hinges get better. Creases become less noticeable. Batteries improve. Screens get tougher. Each new generation can make the previous one feel noticeably older.
2. The market is still relatively small.
Foldables don't have the same huge buyer base as traditional flagship phones. That can make demand for older models weaker once a new generation arrives.
3. Repairs are a bigger concern.
Foldable screens and hinges are more complicated — and potentially much more expensive to repair. If the estimated repair cost for an iPhone Duo is around $1,155, compared with roughly $579 for the Z Fold 8, buyers may be less willing to pay top dollar for a used device.
But doesn't Apple hold its value better?
For traditional iPhones, often yes.
But the iPhone Duo is a different situation.
- Apple has no foldable track record. We don't yet know how well its first foldable will hold up or how buyers will value it after a few years.
- A $2,000+ starting price limits the audience. There simply aren't as many people willing to spend that much on a phone.
- Repair costs could be a major factor. A very expensive screen repair can make buyers much more cautious about purchasing a used foldable.
Samsung has spent years building its foldable lineup, and its older models still show substantial depreciation. Apple may do better, but there's little reason to assume the iPhone Duo will be immune to the same forces.
And with a starting price potentially higher than Samsung's $2,099 Z Fold 8 Ultra, there's a lot of room for the price to come down.
A practical waiting strategy
If you want an iPhone Duo specifically, here's what we'd do:
- Watch the September 9 event — confirm the actual price, specs, and release date. (PCMag preview)
- Skip the launch-day preorder unless being first matters more than saving money.
- Track the refurbished market — TechShave will add the iPhone Duo to its catalog and track prices once refurbished units start appearing.
- Look for the 55%+ discount — based on Samsung's history, that could become realistic sometime after the first year or two.
- Use a cheaper foldable in the meantime — a Z Fold5 at around $490 or a Z Flip5 at around $310 could scratch the foldable itch while you wait.
Bottom line
Buying the iPhone Duo on day one means paying the highest price you're likely to ever pay for it — and taking a chance on a first-generation product with no established resale or repair track record.
Samsung's foldables give us a useful preview of what could happen next: big price drops once the excitement of a new generation wears off.
If you're willing to wait, there's a good chance the iPhone Duo will eventually become much easier to justify.
You don't have to be first. You just have to buy at the right price.
