The Trend That's Caught Everyone Off Guard This March
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra launched in late January 2026 and did something unexpected to the secondhand market: it pushed Galaxy S24 Ultra trade-in values down by roughly 22% in just six weeks. We track prices across dozens of UK recycling companies every day at OnRecycle, and that kind of drop in that short a window is steep, even by post-launch standards. If you're sitting on an S24 Ultra right now, you've already felt the pinch.
Meanwhile, iPhone 15 Pro Max values have held surprisingly steady. We're seeing offers of £420-£480 for a 256GB model in good condition, which is only about 8% below where they sat in December 2025. That resilience tells you a lot about how the two ecosystems behave differently under pressure.
Which Phones Are Holding Their Value Best Right Now
Apple continues to dominate the value-retention charts. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are the standout performers this month, fetching £620-£720 and £740-£850 respectively for 256GB models in excellent condition. That's remarkable for devices that are only five or six months old. Apple's consistent software support policy - promising seven years of iOS updates - is a major reason refurbished buyers pay a premium, which in turn keeps trade-in prices high.
The iPhone 15 series is also ageing well by industry standards. A standard iPhone 15 in good condition is realistically bringing in £280-£340 right now. For context, HMRC's own guidance on asset depreciation doesn't capture how differently premium smartphones hold value compared to mid-range devices - the gap is significant and widens over time.
On the Android side, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is the most pleasant surprise. We're seeing £380-£450 for unlocked 128GB units, driven largely by demand from buyers who want a clean Android experience with guaranteed OS updates. Google's commitment to seven years of updates (matching Apple) has genuinely changed how the secondhand market values Pixel devices. Two years ago, a Pixel would lose 40% of its value in the first six months. That's no longer the case for the Pro line.
Which Phones Are Losing Value Fastest - and When to Sell
Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A series is taking a hammering right now. The Galaxy A55, which launched at £449 in spring 2025, is trading in for £95-£130 today. That's a loss of more than 70% in under a year. The refurbished market is flooded with A-series stock, and buyers know they can pick one up cheaply, so recyclers are pricing accordingly.
The Galaxy S24 and S24+ are the models to watch most urgently. Both dropped sharply after the S25 launch and our data suggests they'll fall another 10-15% before stabilising around May or June, once the initial S25 buzz settles. Right now a 256GB S24 in good condition fetches around £270-£330. By summer, expect that to be closer to £230-£280. If you're planning to sell, this month is still the better side of that window.
The same logic applies to the OnePlus 12. It launched strongly in early 2025 but with the OnePlus 13 now shipping, trade-in values have slipped to £180-£230 for a 256GB model. OnePlus devices have historically lost value faster than comparable Samsung flagships once a new generation lands, and that pattern is holding true again.
Here's the rule of thumb we'd give anyone: sell within 30 days of a new model announcement if you own the outgoing flagship. Prices fall fastest in weeks two through eight after a launch. Wait beyond that and you're chasing a declining market.
What's Actually Driving Price Changes in March 2026
Three things are moving the market simultaneously right now, and they're pulling in different directions.
First, the Samsung S25 launch has created the predictable post-flagship dip for S24 devices. But the S25 range itself has been slower to reach full availability than Samsung hoped, partly due to ongoing constraints on TSMC's 3nm production capacity. That supply tightness is actually keeping S25 trade-in values elevated for the small number of early adopters already upgrading - we're seeing S25 Ultra 256GB offers of £780-£850, which is strong for a two-month-old device.
Second, seasonal demand is a real factor in March. The post-Christmas lull is over, and the spring upgrade cycle is beginning. According to Statista's UK consumer electronics data, Q1 device upgrades spike around March and April as tax refunds and bonus payments arrive. Recycling companies anticipate this and adjust their buying prices upward slightly to secure stock - which is genuinely good news if you're selling this month rather than in January or February.
Third, the refurbished market is maturing fast. Back4Good, musicMagpie and a growing number of specialist refurbishers are competing aggressively for quality stock, particularly iPhones and high-end Samsung devices. That competition puts upward pressure on the prices recycling companies will offer you. It's one reason the gap between the best and worst offers on our platform has widened - some companies are chasing volume, others are chasing margin.
Realistic Price Ranges for Popular Models This Month
Here's what you can realistically expect to be offered right now, based on devices in good condition (minor scratches, fully functional, with original charger where applicable). These are the ranges we're seeing across recycling companies on our platform in March 2026.
iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB): £740-£850. The highest offers are coming from recyclers targeting the export market, particularly for unlocked units.
iPhone 16 Pro (128GB): £620-£720.
iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB): £420-£480.
iPhone 15 (128GB): £280-£340.
iPhone 14 (128GB): £160-£210. Still solid demand from budget-conscious buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB): £780-£850.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB): £370-£440.
Samsung Galaxy S24 (256GB): £270-£330.
Samsung Galaxy S23 (128GB): £140-£185.
Google Pixel 9 Pro (128GB): £380-£450.
Google Pixel 9 (128GB): £240-£290.
OnePlus 13 (256GB): £290-£350.
The spread between the lowest and highest offer on any given model is typically £40-£90. That gap is exactly why comparing matters. On a Galaxy S24 Ultra, the difference between the worst and best offer we're currently showing is £68. That's not small change.
How to Time Your Sale for Maximum Value
Timing is genuinely the most underrated part of getting a good trade-in price. Most people sell reactively - they've already bought a new phone and then think about shifting the old one. By that point, you've often left £50-£150 on the table.
The sweet spot is to sell your current device in the two weeks after a new model is announced but before it actually ships. Demand from buyers wanting the outgoing model at a discount picks up, recyclers are still buying at reasonable prices, and you haven't yet hit the post-launch cliff. For Apple, that means watching for September announcements closely. For Samsung, it's the Unpacked events in January and July.
If you've already missed that window - say you're selling an S24 now, two months after the S25 launched - sell soon rather than waiting. The market for outgoing flagships tends to stabilise after about four months, but you'll have absorbed most of the depreciation by then. Selling now versus selling in June could be the difference between £310 and £255 on an S24.
One thing we see constantly from the data: people underestimate how much condition matters relative to timing. A Galaxy S24 in excellent condition versus one with a cracked rear glass can mean a £60-£80 difference in offers. If your screen is cracked, get it assessed honestly before comparing prices - most recycling companies have a grading system, and being realistic about condition means you won't get a revised (lower) offer when the device arrives.
How to Check What Your Phone Is Worth Right Now
Market analysis is useful context, but the only number that actually matters is what you'll be offered today, for your specific device, in its actual condition. Prices shift week to week - sometimes day to day around major launches.
The fastest way to find out is to get a quote on OnRecycle. Type in your model, select your storage and condition honestly, and you'll instantly see ranked offers from dozens of UK recycling companies. No registration, no commitment, no spam. Just a clear comparison so you can see who's paying the most right now.
We update prices in real time as recycling companies adjust their buying rates, which means the figures you see reflect today's market - not last week's. Given how quickly things moved after the S25 launch, that real-time data genuinely makes a difference. If you want more context on specific devices or the recycling process, our blog has detailed guides covering everything from grading your phone's condition to understanding payment methods. But the single best first step is a quick price check - it takes under a minute and you might be surprised what your old device is still worth.