While Apple is calling the price increase on the iPhone 18 Pro just "$100 more,"that’s only the case for the 256GB and 512GB versions. The 1TB model goes up by $300, and there is a new 2TB version that has no iPhone 17 Pro equivalent to compare against.
So, if you're considering an iPhone 18 Pro, does paying more for storage translate into a higher resale value lateriPhone
This marks the first time a 2TB option has been available on a Pro model. To get a better picture of the pricing, the closest equivalent to today’s 2TB Pro would be the 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max,which was sold for $1,999. That makes today’s 2TB Pro $400 more expensive.
However, prices diverge at the higher storage tiers due to the overall increase in the price of NAND memory, which results in a higher price allocation for models with more storage. The price difference per gigabyte is also inconsistent. Going from 256GB to 512GB and from 512GB to 1TB works out to be about $0.78 per gigabyte, while an increase from 1TB to 2TB is priced at about $0.59 per gigabyte. So while the 2TB model is the most expensive option, it offers the best price-per-gigabyte ratio.
Does iPhone storage affect trade-in and resale value?
The trade-in policy for Apple products ignores the storage space. Two iPhone 18 Pros, one with 256 GB of storage space and another with 1 TB of storage space, get the same trade-in value irrespective of the additional cost of upgrading from 256 GB to 1 TB ($600).
- Extra storage adds to the iPhone’s resale value, although this proportion varies by storage tier and is around only 24–30 percent of the cost of each additional storage tier.
- The 256GB model retains its original value the best and is the most sought after among customers.
- The recovery percentage for 2TB is the lowest since it has the highest initial cost among the four iPhone 18 storage tiers.
Storage upgrade cost vs. Typical resale recovery
The following table shows the extra costs incurred from each stage of the iPhone 18 Pro storage upgrade, in accordance with Apple's release price range, and the proportion of those extra costs recovered when the phone is sold.
Upgrading storage capacity from 1TB to 2TB would incur a further cost of $600 and provide an estimated residual value of $145 (about 24%) at resale, without any additional value being realized through Apple’s trade-in program. The next two increments offer better returns, each about 30%, but still leave some value unrecovered. It is clear, then, that increased storage capacity does not qualify as an investment.
Who should buy more iPhone 18 Pro storage?
If you have never been over 200 GB before, and if you have cloud storage apps like iCloud or Google Photos or you change phones once or twice a year, then a storage upgrade is not necessary. In this case, buying 256 GB or 512 GB along with iCloud+ will be cheaper for you. The subscription plans start from $2.99 per month for 200 GB and $9.99 per month for 2 TB. This will cost less than the $400–$600 initial investment for larger storage options over one to two years of usage.
More storage is meant for you if you often record ProRes videos or take RAW photos, don't have reliable cloud access when you travel, use offline media libraries, or have reached your iPhone 18 Pro storage limit. In that case, spending money on the extra storage is justified, even though the resale value won't cover the whole cost.
How to get the best trade-in value for your old iPhone?
It is more important when to sell the phone and where than how much money can be stored. The trade-in credit offered by Apple is fixed, and it is usually smaller compared to the offer of the third party buy-back services. However, it may be possible to get even more money from a private seller.
- Find out how much your cell phone is worth now because it loses its value rapidly, according to the depreciation calculator of Cashmycell.
- Comparison is better than accepting an offer - running a comparison between various deals, such as that which Cashmycell does, is often better than one program.
- Be sure to list your storage and condition accurately because that will affect the price on the open market, even though Apple does not consider it when giving you their flat rate.
Bottom Line
Apple's "one hundred dollars more" is just scratching the surface. Prices rise quickly on the high end, and the 2TB model alone costs $1,200 more than the 256GB base. Make your decision based on how you plan to use the device, rather than the price Apple announces in its keynote.
The gap between the advertised price increase and the actual cost of upgrading storage is what matters when considering the iPhone 18 Pro. While higher storage gives you more space, the resale value recovers only a portion of that additional cost.
Wondering about the value of your current iPhone? Compare live trade-in offers on Cashmycell.
Methodology
Price estimates of the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro are based on the official U.S. launch prices announced by Apple at the time of publication (September 2026). Prices per gigabyte have been calculated using these prices. The resale and trade-in value range is based on available market data on iPhone buyback prices and is not indicative of guaranteed prices. There are different factors that affect the final price you may receive for your iPhone, including but not limited to the buyer, device condition, locked status of the device to a specific carrier, location, and proximity to the next iPhone release. Trade-in conditions by Apple are provided by Apple and are subject to change.
FAQs
1. Does Apple pay more when you trade in a higher storage iPhone?
Not at all. In Apple's trade-in program, you get the same amount of credit for any iPhone model regardless of the storage level. For example, a 256GB and 1TB iPhone 18 Pro will be valued exactly the same.
2. Which iPhone 18 Pro storage level maintains its value the best?
256GB. It offers the broadest buyer base and maintains the greatest percentage of its initial price, although 1TB and 2TB models can earn more cash outright.
3. Is it worth shelling out an extra $600 for upgrading from 1 TB to 2 TB of storage in the iPhone 18 Pro?
It is not worth it unless there is any real need for ProRes videos or RAW photos or media libraries. Anything else would mean recovering just about $145 from the extra $600 invested, without Apple's trade-in.
4. What led to the sharp rise in storage prices of iPhone 18 Pro?
There has been an upsurge in costs of NAND flash memory across the industry. Instead of increasing the price uniformly for all products, Apple has decided to shift a large part of the cost to the storage options, thereby increasing the price difference as one moves further.
5. Is iCloud+ cheaper than paying extra for iPhone storage?
The subscription fees during the course of normal term of ownership between 1 and 3 years will be as follows: $2.99 per month for 200 GB and $9.99 per month for 2 TB. The total subscription fee will come out to be lower than the upfront costs of $400-$600.
6. Does storage size impact the speed of reselling of used iPhones?
Yes. Medium-size storage (256GB-512GB) usually appeals to the largest number of potential buyers and sells quicker, while base storage and premium storage (2TB) models may appeal to fewer buyers.
7. Should I sell my iPhone prior to or after the release of a new model?
Prior to, if possible. The resale value of the phone is likely to drop as soon as a new generation is announced, and continues to decline after the release of a new generation, so selling prior to announcement is less expensive.
8. Should I trade-in for Apple store credit or sell for cash through the buy-back marketplace?
Buying back marketplaces such as Cashmycell pay more because their valuation of the phone takes into account storage size, condition, and current demand, and pays you cash and not store credit.
9. Is it possible to sell a broken or cracked iPhone for money?
Yes. It is still possible to get money from broken or cracked phones since there are buyback companies that focus on such phones. Proper description of the device condition will help in getting the right quote.
10. What is the difference between trade-in value for the same phone in terms of different buyback buyers?
Different companies may make an offer that differs for the same model and storage up to $100 or more.