Foldable smartphones might not be that new anymore, but it's still hard not to be impressed by this incredibly technology.The first Galaxy Fold model released by Samsung all the way back in 2019 took the tech world by storm, and recent releases continue to see these devices get thinner, faster and way more powerful.Read more: Latest Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper in one place this Black Friday Read more: Argos drops price of Samsung’s best earbuds but Amazon has a better deal Firms aren't standing still either.
Samsung recently gave fans their first glimpse of a new tri-fold device with three screens that open to reveal a massive tablet-style screen.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTRumours are also rife that Apple may finally unleash its first folding phone next year - that's a clear indication that foldables are here to stay.If you've been tempted by this latest revolution, we wouldn't blame you, as bendy call makers offer plenty of wow-factor along with bigger displays for work and play.However, buying one does come with a warning.New data from the team at trade-in site SellCell, suggests some foldbales seem to be losing their resale value more rapidly than traditional smartphones.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTIn fact, SellCell reckons that foldable phones generally depreciate by as much as 15.4 per cent more in the first six months after their release.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT“On average, foldable devices lose about 62.3% of their value within six months, compared to 49.8% for traditional flagships, highlighting a significant 12.5% difference in short-term value retention,” SellCell explained.“After 18 months, foldables have typically lost 71.1% of their value, while non-foldables have seen a depreciation of 60.7%, indicating that foldables tend to lose around 10.4% more in the long run.” SUBSCRIBE Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you.This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding.
You can unsubscribe at any time.Read our Privacy PolicyApple's John Ternus shares insight into the new iPhone The latest data may also be especially bad for Samsung, with SellCell saying the firm may have the biggest issue when it comes to price falls.SellCell’s data suggests that Samsung’s foldable devices experienced the steepest decline, with a value loss of 63.7 percent in the first six months, compared to 48.3% for the standard Galaxy S series.So, is there a problem with foldables and why are they falling so fast?There are several reasons why foldable phones might depreciate more quickly than standard phones.SellCell states that the foldable trend is relatively new to the market, and as such, resellers and buyers still view them as intriguing yet untested, whereas users are more familiar with standard phones.Then there's the issue with reliability and repairs as it costs a lot more to replace a foldable screens than dealing with standard a screen.That makes second-hand models less attractive for trade-ins or resale."While foldables may represent the future of technology, they are still in the early-adopter stage regarding value retention," SelCell added.
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