There’s always someone who says, “Just get the iPhone. It holds its value.” It’s one of the most common reasons people give for paying more, so we put it to the test. The answer, we found, depends more on where you live than you’d think.
It’s a reminder that the price on the box is rarely the full cost, and that idea runs through this whole issue. There’s an AI assistant that’s free until it isn’t, a career path that can cost more to get into than it pays at first, and a TV box problem you can’t simply reset away. So, let’s figure out what’s worth paying for. See you next week!
— Oluwajeminipe, Associate Editor.
🚀 THE BIG STORY
📱 Does an iPhone truly hold its value?
By Sietoyo Esitikott
The iPhone 16, Galaxy S24, and Pixel 9 all launched at about $799 in 2024. Two years later, in the US, they’re worth very different amounts.
On Swappa, America’s biggest used-phone marketplace, a 128GB iPhone 16 now averages about $522. That’s around 35% less than it cost new. The Pixel 9 has lost about 54%, and the Galaxy S24 about 59%. That means an iPhone buyer has lost about $277, and a Galaxy buyer about $470.
Sell in Nigeria, though, and the gap almost disappears. Based on dealer prices for UK-used phones in Abuja, all three have lost about half their value in naira. The iPhone is ahead by only about two percentage points.
If you upgrade every year or two, check what phones resell for where you’ll actually sell them. In the US, the iPhone’s resale edge is real. In markets where most phones are imported and resold used, it may be small.
⚡️ QUICK HITS
🤖 Grok Bot read 102 emails in three minutes
Damilare tested xAI’s new assistant for four days. It worked through his inbox fast and caught every hidden instruction he planted. The catches: calling only works in the US, and the free trial lasts seven days before it costs $30 a month. Worth trying for the week. But decide before it bills you. → Read Damilare's review.
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