With one of the most anticipated mobile events of the year having taken place in Times Square at the end of last week, data from SellMyMobile.com reveals that HTC and BlackBerry trade-ins through the site have shot up just days after the Samsung GALAXY S4 launch.
The data reveals that smartphone trade-ins have increased by 35% the weekend following the launch of the Samsung GALAXY S4, with HTC and BlackBerry device trade-ins up 82% and 56% respectively. However, the data also reveals that Apple fans were less impressed by the launch of the new GALAXY, as the site saw only a 5% increase in iPhone trade-ins – compared to a 61% surge in Apple trade-ins after the launch of the iPhone 5 last year.
The data from SellMyMobile.com also reveals that Apple devices tend to prove the best investment in terms of holding value over a long period of time. While people can still get the most cash for a BlackBerry Porsche at £547, Apple handsets make up three out of the top five most valuable phones. The value of a Samsung GALAXY S2 has plummeted by 16% over the past four weeks, and the Samsung GALAXY S3 has also fallen from £260 to £250 following Mobile World Congress earlier this year. This contrasts with the iPhone 5 16GB which has retained its trade in-value of £311 despite a raft of new devices unveiled over the past few weeks.
Colin White, MD for SellMyMobile.com commented: “The rise in trade-ins of HTC and BlackBerry devices highlights the increasing rivalry between handset giants as consumers cash-in on the old in exchange for the new. But it’s interesting to see that despite the hype, we haven’t seen the same surge in trade-ins that we do with most Apple device launches.”
“With new devices launching so regularly, we often see tech-savvy consumers trading in their old handsets even before the new device hits the shops, as this is when trade-in values are at their highest. But with so many devices launching every month, prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. So if you’re looking to trade-in your old device, make sure you use a price comparison recycling site to guarantee you get the best deal, no matter which device you have.”