Garmin holds resale value better than Apple, Google or Samsung
Anyone trading a Fenix 8 for the new Fenix 9, or an Apple Watch Ultra 3 for an Ultra 4 in a few weeks, can now quantify their trade-in loss. A new eBay resale study from Wareable puts the Fenix 8’s average value retention at 72% after six months, on a blended launch price across its AMOLED, titanium and solar variants ($1,133). That works out to a $321 loss.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 fares worse. It kept 65% of its $799 launch price after six months, a loss of $278 and a resale value around $521. The outgoing Ultra 2 did better at the same six-month mark: 69% retention, $249 lost, roughly $550 back. Both Ultra models sit behind Garmin’s Fenix line and behind the Fenix 8 Pro, which held 69% of a $1,250 average price despite being the most expensive watch in the dataset.
The study analysed 6,372 used smartwatch sales on eBay US. Garmin’s Fenix line holds six of the top eleven places, and the brand’s overall average across every model is 69%, ahead of Apple’s 58%, Google’s 56% and Samsung’s 42%.
Percentage retention understates the tax already paid
A retention percentage measured against a tax-inclusive launch price flatters the brand less than it should. UK VAT is 20%, so a £799 watch includes about £133 of tax rather than product value, and a private resale is VAT-free. Measuring the $521 Ultra 3 recovery against the ex-VAT cost rather than the gross launch price puts real depreciation closer to 22%.
The dataset is US eBay sales, where sales tax runs lower, so the same correction could be smaller there.
Official trade-in pays less than the open market
Apple’s own trade-in programme inevitably prices an Ultra 3 below what the data shows for private eBay sales, reflecting the no-hassle factor. The 65% figure is also a single snapshot at six months, and the full depreciation curve isn’t linear.
Coros beats every brand on percentage terms
The Coros Pace 4 tops the entire table at 76% retention, albeit on a tiny sample size. It fits the pattern elsewhere in the data: dedicated sports watches, judged on GPS accuracy, battery life and training software, keep more value than general-purpose smartwatches regardless of price tier.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra sits at the other end of the table, keeping only 44% of its $650 price.
Quick answers
How much value does a Garmin Fenix 8 lose in six months?
The study found the Fenix 8 kept 72% of its blended average launch price of $1,133 after six months, a loss of $321.
Is trading in an Apple Watch Ultra 3 worth it before a new Ultra launches?
The data puts Ultra 3 resale value at 65% of its $799 launch price after six months, around $521. A watch approaching a new model’s launch typically sees resale prices soften further, and Apple’s own trade-in programme usually pays less than a private sale.
Which smartwatch brand holds its value best?
Garmin, at an average of 69% retention across every model in the study, ahead of Apple’s 58%, Google’s 56% and Samsung’s 42%.
Last Updated on 3 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
My prediction is that cirqa resale value is going downhill more than garmin average
I stopped buying MSRP a few years ago after buying new Garmin releases almost always on day or week one! The only problem is to tame your urge to own the latest and greatest and wait for the prices to drop on ebay and other selling platforms…that’s pretty hard, for me anyway. But I found a Tactix 8 AMOLED 51mm for under 700€ and an Enduro 3 for under 500. Both in really good conditions. I sold the Enduro 6 month later for the same price and got a T8 Solar for 750. I am going to sell them at some point and buy a pre-owned T or F 9. I’ll still lose money but much less.
think about poor me I have to buy at day 1 full prices 🙁
Generally, in the case of automobiles, the more expensive the luxury vehicle, the higher the depreciation rate.
Conversely, affordable, mass-market cars have low depreciation rates.
It is only natural that the low-priced COROS has a low depreciation rate.
The low depreciation rates of very expensive products like the FENIX8 or FR970 can be interpreted as an indication of very high demand.