Key Summary
- The resale value of Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has dropped sharply within about two weeks of release.
- According to the U.S. used-phone comparison platform SellCell, the highest buyback offer for the 2TB model fell to $1,971 from a launch price of $3,199, a decline of more than 38%.
- A $999 repair cost for the internal folding display is being cited as a major factor, and some used-phone sellers are avoiding the device.
- In South Korea, a 256GB model that had previously sold at a premium is now appearing below its launch price, even when unopened.
Main Story
Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has seen a steep decline in resale prices shortly after its market debut. SellCell, a U.S. platform that compares used-phone prices, said the highest buyback offer for the top 2TB version has dropped to $1,971 from its $3,199 launch price. That represents a fall of more than 38% since the device was released on the 23rd of last month.
High repair costs appear to be weighing on the secondary market. The internal folding screen alone costs $999 to repair, and that price has made some used-device businesses reluctant to purchase the phone. The report said some U.S. resale platforms have stopped accepting the iPhone Duo altogether.
Conditions in South Korea are also weakening. A 256GB model that had traded above retail price soon after launch is now being listed below the official launch price, with even unopened units appearing at 3.05 million won, or 240,000 won less than the original launch price of 3.29 million won. Industry watchers said concerns about defects and the high repair bill could continue to delay purchases if those issues are not resolved.
Background
The supplied article notes that the iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable phone. It also states that its internal folding display is expensive to repair, and that market reactions in both the United States and South Korea have shifted quickly after release.
Items Requiring Further Verification
- The article attributes the resale-price data to SellCell; that platform’s methodology and sample size are not provided in the supplied text.
- The claim that some U.S. used-phone platforms have excluded the iPhone Duo from buyback programs is not identified by name in the supplied text.
- The report says industry expectations suggest buyers may keep postponing purchases if defects and repair costs remain unresolved; this is a forecast rather than a verified outcome.
- The South Korean price examples are presented as market listings, but the specific sellers, dates, and transaction status are not provided.