Since then, we’ve asked you if you’ve recently sold your phone, and if so, what model was it, and while the vast majority of responses were “no”, the iPhone 17 Pro Max received an… interesting number of “votes” from PhoneArena readers.
What exactly is wrong with this device?
Well, I’m here today to find that out, so after asking you if you’ve recently sold your phone, I want to discuss specifically with those who’ve already ditched their iPhone 17 Pro Max units in a new poll and the comments section further below.
SellCell analysts believe that the phone’s apparent (and unusual) trouble retaining and loyalizing so many of its original owners might not come from those people’s dissatisfaction or disappointment with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, instead having a lot to do with its impressive value retention.
Basically, the 17 Pro Max is so valuable on the “independent trade-in market” that many users might simply not be able to resist the temptation of selling it and cashing in on their “investments” while the ROI is still high.
Personally, I’m not (entirely) convinced by that explanation because no one is actually selling any used phone at a profit (duh!). That must mean something is in fact wrong enough with this device to cause many people to seek an escape of sorts.
And that brings me to a second new poll I’d like to start today.
What are all these iPhone 17 Pro Max deserters getting as a replacement?
Let’s be honest, no one is selling their state-of-the-art 2025-released smartphone to start a new life away from modern civilization and technology.
Although I still don’t find the possibility that some people are trading in their iPhone 17 Pro Max in favor of a “lesser” 17 or 17 Pro model completely preposterous, I’m definitely willing to entertain other product names as the potential top picks for these “deserters.”
Your speculation that the majority of those selling their 17 Pro Max are swapping for 17 Pro, standard 17 fails to meet logic. Holding 74.6% of its value would make the 256GB worth $894. The 17 Pro starts at $1099, standard 17 $799 and refurbished 16 Pro Max in excellent condition are over $800. I can’t imagine anyone who’d elect to lose money for less of a phone, and very few who would go through the effort of selling to recoup less than $100 in exchange for a much lesser or older and lesser phone.
Romeo16
