As AI features increasingly arrive through software rather than new hardware, the traditional smartphone upgrade cycle could start to change. If an older Android phone can keep gaining useful new features, does it stay valuable for longer?
On August 18, Google completed the rollout of Gemini in Chrome for Android users in the US. The feature can answer questions about the page you are viewing, summarize content and connect with services such as Calendar and Keep. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers can also use Auto Browse for certain multi-step web tasks.
Gemini in Chrome on Android requires a compatible device with at least 4GB of RAM, Android 12 or later and other eligibility requirements, while Auto Browse has additional restrictions and subscription requirements. But does this rollout and others like it affect a phone’s value? Let’s break it down.
How much value do Android phones lose after 1, 2, and 3 years?
Cashmycell's internal price-history data shows how sharply resale values can change as Android phones age. The table tracks selected Google, Samsung and OnePlus devices across different points in their lifecycles.
Note: Percentages show the share of the earliest tracked Cashmycell resale value still retained at each point.
The Pixel 6 Pro, for example, had fallen from an earliest tracked value of $600 to $205 after 24 months. The Galaxy S23 Ultra held up considerably better over the same period, retaining about 71% of its earliest tracked value after two years.
Check here how much your phone is worth.
Can Gemini keep older Android phones useful for longer?
A phone's age and its usefulness do not always move at the same pace. While resale values typically fall over time, software support can help a device remain relevant long after its launch.
That is where AI could become part of the picture. Google's Gemini rollout is one example. Software updates can give compatible older devices new capabilities without requiring an immediate hardware upgrade.
This does not mean Gemini or AI support will directly increase the resale value of older Android phones. Cloud-based AI can bring newer features to older hardware because much of the processing happens remotely. On-device AI is more dependent on the processor, memory and dedicated AI hardware.
An older phone receiving Gemini does not suddenly match a new flagship, but AI becomes another factor alongside battery health, performance, cameras, software support and physical condition.
What determines an Android phone’s resale value?
AI is only one part of the equation. Battery health, processor performance, camera quality, software support and physical condition all influence resale value, while supply, demand, new launches and trade-in promotions can move prices just as sharply.
The Cashmycell data shows that depreciation remains unavoidable. But a phone's age does not tell the whole story. What matters is how much of the current smartphone experience it can still deliver.
For now, AI may not make an old Android phone worth more. But if software increasingly determines how long a phone feels current, it could eventually change how quickly consumers and the resale market consider a device old.
FAQs
1. What is Gemini in Chrome for Android?
Gemini in Chrome is Google's AI assistant built into the Chrome browser on Android. As of the August 18 rollout in the US, it can answer questions about the page you are viewing, summarize content, and connect with apps like Calendar and Keep.
2. What phones are compatible with Gemini in Chrome?
Your device needs at least 4GB of RAM and Android 12 or later, along with a few other eligibility requirements. Auto Browse, which handles multi-step web tasks, has additional restrictions and requires a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription.
3. Does having Gemini or AI features increase an Android phone's resale value?
Not directly, at least not yet. AI access is simply becoming one more factor buyers may weigh alongside battery health, performance, and camera quality.
4. How much value do Android phones lose over time?
It varies a lot by device. For example, the Pixel 6 Pro dropped from $600 to $205 (35%) after 24 months, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra retained about 71% of its value over the same period, falling from $770 to $550.
5. What determines how much an Android phone is worth on resale?
Several factors matter: battery health, processor performance, camera quality, software support, and physical condition. Market forces like supply, demand, new phone launches, and trade-in promotions can also shift prices significantly. Increasingly, AI is also emerging as one of the factors.