iPhone Price Drops Are Gradual, Not Immediate, Israeli Experts Say

Contrary to popular belief, prices for older iPhone models do not drop sharply immediately after a new generation is released, according to an analysis by Israeli price comparison group Zap. Following the launch of the iPhone 18 lineup, consumers often anticipate significant discounts on previous models, but Zap's data, spanning the last three years from iPhone 15 to iPhone 17, indicates a more gradual price decrease. Oshrat Kohen, Deputy Director for Customer Relations at Zap, stated that the idea of an immediate price crash for older iPhones is a common myth. Price reductions occur slowly, with the most substantial drops appearing within the first month after a new model's release. For instance, after the iPhone 17 launch, the iPhone 16 Pro initially saw no price decrease and even increased by approximately 100 shekels after two months. Over the first month post-release, older models typically decrease in price by 4.6% to 10.1%, with a full year needed for prices to fall by up to 35% of their original value. Gadi Avitan, Deputy Director of E-commerce at Zap, advises those looking to buy the new iPhone 18 to wait four to six weeks to save hundreds of shekels, emphasizing that purchasing an older model immediately after a new release offers no real advantage, as its price reduction is solely time-dependent. The analysis also revealed that the iPhone 17 set a record for adoption rates in Israel, with demand nearly three times higher than the previous generation. The Pro Max version remained the most popular, accounting for over half of all orders within the iPhone 17 line.