Apple's 2026 autumn product launch, held in the early hours of Beijing time on September 10, unveiled its first foldable iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro series, with new offerings squarely aimed at the premium segment. The debut has ignited a parallel surge in the second-hand consumer electronics market, as data from Zhuanzhuan shows a 270% week-on-week spike in Apple phone searches and a 311% increase in trade-in valuations following the event.
The elevated price entry point for new devices has driven up prices for older models, boosting interest in previous-generation products. Zhuanzhuan data reveals that by 8 AM, searches for the iPhone 17 series jumped 470% week-on-week, with transaction volumes climbing 280%, while the standard iPhone 17 saw a staggering 700% increase in trades.
Zhuanzhuan attributes this trend to Apple's decision to offer only the foldable iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro series, leaving out a standard model, alongside raised official pricing for the iPhone 17. Positioned as a recent flagship launched last September, the iPhone 17 series delivers solid performance, camera quality, and AI capabilities suited to mainstream needs, making its second-hand value increasingly compelling. It is poised to become the most sought-after model in the second-hand market this fall.
The new release has also fueled a recycling boom. Post-launch, Zhuanzhuan's Apple phone trade-in valuations surged 311% week-on-week, with iPhone 17 series valuations multiplying over fivefold. A Zhuanzhuan recycling business lead noted that valuation activity is a reliable gauge of users' upgrade and turnover intentions. As new iPhones officially hit shelves, recycling volumes for older models are expected to climb significantly, with iPhone 14 and 15 series likely to be the primary stock sold by users upgrading.
The product event has similarly lifted demand for Apple accessories like headphones and smartwatches in the second-hand market. Zhuanzhuan data shows that on launch day, trade-in valuations for Apple headphones jumped nearly 400% week-on-week.