The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple’s top-end flagship released in September 2025 has unexpectedly become the most traded-in smartphone on the market just months after its launch, according to recent independent trade-in data.
Trade-in Data Shows a Surprising Trend
Data compiled by the resale platform SellCell indicates that the iPhone 17 Pro Max now accounts for 11.5 % of the top-20 most traded-in devices, a significant jump from around 5.1 % in late November 2025. This makes it the number-one device in a list normally dominated by older phones — and especially older iPhones — whose larger installed bases and longer lifecycles tend to drive resale volumes. Most of the units now appearing in trade-in listings are in good or mint condition (about 86 %), suggesting many owners are parting with them relatively soon after buying.
Why Are Owners Trading Them In?
Owners’ reasons vary, but a notable portion seem to be expressing regret or dissatisfaction with the device soon after purchasing. Users on social platforms — like Reddit — have shared sentiments that the phone is too large or unwieldy in everyday use, even for those with bigger hands, and some have said they’d prefer older models such as the iPhone 13 Pro because they find differences in experience negligible. Others appear to be trading in simply to unlock resale value or generate cash, rather than holding onto the phone long term. This behaviour — while unusual for such a recent release — aligns with broader economic trends where premium devices are treated as short-term assets that can be sold at a relatively high price on the secondary market.
Resale Value Still Strong
Despite the uptick in trade-ins, the iPhone 17 Pro Max retains strong resale value compared with past models. SellCell’s data shows that average resale prices for mint-condition units sit around $967.50 (~€900) — a relatively modest drop compared with original launch prices that started at around $1,199 for the base model, rising to about $1,999 for the top-end 2 TB variant in the U.S. Analysis from other outlets also notes that the 17 Pro Max’s resale depreciation has been slower than earlier flagship iPhones. Over the course of roughly 145 days since launch, the device lost about 25.4 % of its value, compared to about a 32.5 % drop for the iPhone 16 Pro Max over a similar timeframe. This relative stability likely makes it a more attractive trade-in candidate because sellers can capitalize on better prices before the value drops further.
Customer Sentiment is Mixed
While many owners appear to be offloading their devices early, the overall user feedback isn’t universally negative. Some buyers report being very satisfied with performance and features like the A19 Pro chip, 48 MP triple-camera system, large display, and long battery life, which can offer up to 37 hours of video playback — the longest ever for an iPhone. However, critics focus on practical issues like sheer size and weight, describing the phone as “thick,” difficult to use one-handed, and awkward to handle — even with large hands.
What This Means
The rise of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in trade-in rankings reflects a convergence of strong secondary-market pricing, evolving consumer upgrade patterns, and personal preferences that don’t always align with flagship hype. Even though it’s less than a year old, the device’s combination of high trade-in value and mixed user sentiment may be leading many owners to cash out early — a pattern that’s unusual but increasingly visible in today’s smartphone ecosystem.
