When the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max was released on September 22nd, 2023 it was received with much fanfare. With Covid restrictions no longer stopping enthusiastic buyers, they queued up in long never ending lines to get their hands on the newly launched phone priced at $1,199. After all, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasted of a lightweight titanium design (the same alloy used for spacecraft) with a 5x telephoto camera, and the powerful A17 Pro chip.
However, flagship smartphones rarely hold their value forever. With an array of successive models lining up the market from iPhone 16 to the latest 17 series, resale prices for the iPhone 15 Pro Max gradually adjusted to reflect a maturing secondary market.
As per Cash My Cell’s proprietary data from 2023 to 2026, the broad data trend reflects a 38.0% depreciation in the phone’s resale value since launch.
It is interesting to track the month by month resale price trend for the iPhone 15 Pro Max since launch.
Early Strength
The resale performance for the iPhone 15 Pro Max was the strongest in the first few months after the launch. While the resale value in October 2023 was only $ 930, it climbed swiftly to $1093 in November 2023. Between November 2023 and April 2024, resale values consistently remained above the $1,090 mark, peaking at $1,121 in both March and April 2024. This resale amount was exceptionally high and was almost more than 90% of the actual price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The Declining Point
The first steep decline occurred in August 2024 when resale prices dropped from a stable $1060 from previous months to $ 896 for iPhone 15 Pro Max. This decline could be attributed to the upcoming launch of the next generation of iPhone in September 2024. By the end of 2024, average resale values had fallen further - October 2024: $871, November 2024: $833, December 2024: $818.
Steady Decline Continues in 2025
The phone largely held the resale value of $780-$810 range during the first half of the year, even seeing a modest recovery from $781 in March to $808 by July. However, another significant decline occurred in August 2025, when resale prices dropped to $681, followed by a decline to $633 in October and $606 by November.
What 2026 Tells Us So Far
By the first quarter of 2026, depreciation had slowed considerably.
Average resale values settled between $577 and $583, indicating that the phone was entering the more stable phase of its resale lifecycle. Once flagship devices reach this stage, monthly price movements tend to become much smaller as the market establishes a consistent valuation based on the condition of the phone.
Data Speaks
The month-by-month data illustrates a discernible pattern:
- Strong resale performance immediately after launch.
- High price stability during the first six to eight months.
- Larger depreciation around annual iPhone launches.
- Gradually slowing depreciation as the device matures.
Despite being on the market since 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues to retain a substantial portion of its original value. At approximately $577 in March 2026, the device still commands nearly half of its original retail price!
For consumers, this timeline also highlights an important consideration. Waiting until after a new flagship phone launches can accelerate depreciation, while selling earlier may help maximise returns. So remember, as the saying goes, timing is everything!