Is the iPhone 18 Pro Worth $1,199? New vs. a Used iPhone, Cost by Cost
The sticker price is only part of what a phone costs you. Tax, repairs, a battery replacement and what you can sell it for later all change the real number. This post compares a new iPhone 18 Pro with a used iPhone 15 Pro and a used iPhone 14 on all of those, using clearly labeled assumptions.
For the launch details, see our launch post.
What's real and what's assumed
Facts (with sources):
- The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, or $49.95 a month for 24 months through Apple's financing (Apple Newsroom).
- Philadelphia's combined sales tax rate is 8%: 6% Pennsylvania and 2% Philadelphia (City of Philadelphia).
- Used prices: Swappa's average listing price was $539 for an iPhone 15 Pro and $323 for an iPhone 14, in its U.S. price list dated March 10, 2026 (Swappa). Treat these as rough benchmarks, not current quotes.
Assumptions (ours, not market data):
- Tax applies to the purchase. Whether a particular sale is taxable depends on the seller and the sale, so confirm with yours.
- Resale values at the end of ownership: $400 for the new phone after four years, $200 for the 15 Pro and $100 for the 14 after three.
- One battery replacement for each used phone at about $100. Check Apple's current price estimator for your model.
The comparison
| New iPhone 18 Pro | Used iPhone 15 Pro | Used iPhone 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $1,199 | $539 | $323 |
| Sales tax (8%) | $96 | $43 | $26 |
| Battery replacement (assumed) | $0 | $100 | $100 |
| Resale at the end (assumed) | -$400 | -$200 | -$100 |
| Net cost | $895 | $482 | $349 |
| Years kept | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Cost per year | about $224 | about $161 | about $116 |
These are illustrations. If the new phone resold for $600, its cost per year would drop to about $174, which is still higher than either used phone. Your own numbers will differ, so plug in what you'd realistically pay and resell for.
What the extra money buys
A new iPhone 18 Pro gets you Apple's newest camera and chip, a fresh battery, the longest software runway ahead of it, and a manufacturer warranty. Apple designs the battery in the iPhone 15 and later to hold about 80 percent of its capacity after 1,000 charge cycles (Apple Support), so a new phone shouldn't need a battery replacement for years.
Used phones carry more uncertainty: battery wear, condition and warranty terms vary. That's what the saving pays for, which is why checking a used phone matters. Our checklist covers it.
Who should buy new
- You shoot a lot of photos or video and want the best camera available.
- You keep phones five years or more and want the longest support runway.
- You want a manufacturer warranty and don't want to inspect anything.
Who should buy used
- You mostly text, browse, stream, navigate and take everyday photos.
- You'd rather spend a few hundred dollars than over a thousand.
- You're buying for a teenager, a parent or a backup phone.
If you want the newest Apple Intelligence features without paying new-phone prices, the iPhone 15 Pro is the oldest model that supports them. Our best used iPhones guide compares each option.
Ask us
Tell us your budget and your carrier and we'll check what's available, and confirm any phone works with your carrier before you pay. Browse our unlocked iPhones or send us a message.