Why are users reselling the iPhone 17 Pro Max intensively?

SadaNews - The resale markets have witnessed a notable increase in the number of units of the iPhone 17 Pro Max available in excellent or very good condition in recent weeks, raising questions about whether Apple's flagship phone is facing a real crisis in demand.

However, a recent report from the "SellCell" platform suggests that this phenomenon does not necessarily indicate commercial failure but may reflect a striking paradox: the phone retains its value very strongly, encouraging its owners to sell it early for the best possible return.

Not a failure... but strong value retention

Despite the increasing supply in resale markets, the phone cannot be described as a failure, as it ranked fourth on the list of the best-selling phones worldwide last year.

Data shows that the iPhone 17 Pro Max lost only about 25.4% of its value after 145 days of its launch, compared to a 32.5% loss for the iPhone 16 Pro Max during the same timeframe after its release, according to a report published by "phonearena" that was reviewed by "Al-Arabiya Business."

This difference means that owners of the latest model can resell it at a relatively higher price, which explains its leading position on the list of the most traded phones in exchange programs, ahead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

According to the report, the phone's share of total exchange transactions rose from 5.1% in November 2025 to 11.5% currently, in a continuous growth that reflects significant activity in the resale market.

Where are users headed?

The report did not specify the users' destination after selling their devices, but the most likely scenario is that they move to lower-priced versions such as the iPhone 17 Pro or the standard version of the iPhone 17, or even return to the previous generation.

Although the hypothesis of switching to Android was proposed, data indicates that 19 out of 20 phones on the most traded list carry the "Apple" logo, with the only exception being the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra at seventeenth position.

Older devices such as the iPhone 13, iPhone 11, and iPhone XR continue to maintain their appeal in the used market, reflecting the brand's strength and its devices' ability to retain value compared to a large number of Android phones.

What does this mean for the iPhone 18 series?

Sales of the iPhone 17 series may not be affected in the short term, but the continued phenomenon of rapid resale may raise concerns for "Apple" ahead of the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Predictions suggest that the standard version of the iPhone 18 may not be released until next year, which could put additional pressure on the higher-priced versions if they do not offer substantial improvements to convince users to hold onto them longer.

Observers believe that the significant similarity between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and its predecessor may have played a role in accelerating selling decisions, meaning that any qualitative upgrade in the next generation—without raising prices—could quickly restore balance.

In conclusion, the phone does not seem to be suffering from weak demand, but from an opposite equation: high value prompting users to part with it early for profits, in a phenomenon that could reshape the landscape of the flagship phone market in the coming years.