Calculate what a phone really costs to own. Purchase price, repairs, accessories, depreciation. Compare up to 3 phones side by side.
* Cost estimates based on industry averages. Real costs may vary by carrier, condition, and luck.
A $799 phone that holds 70% resale value after 2 years costs you $240 in depreciation. A $499 phone that drops to 30% resale costs you $349 in depreciation. The "cheaper" phone costs more to own. TCO captures what matters: the total economic impact of your purchase over its useful life.
We track official repair pricing from manufacturers (Apple, Samsung, Google authorized service) and factor in the probability of needing repairs based on usage intensity. Light users have roughly 10% screen repair probability over 2 years. Heavy users: 35%. Battery replacements become likely after year 3 for most phones.
Resale percentages are based on historical trade-in and secondary market data. Apple devices consistently retain the highest resale value (65-75% after 1 year). Android flagships typically retain 45-60%. Mid-range and budget phones depreciate faster. Region affects resale: strong local demand = higher resale value.
We deliberately exclude carrier subsidies, insurance premiums, and monthly installment interest from TCO. Those are financing decisions, not ownership costs. We calculate the raw economic cost of the device itself: what you pay, what you spend maintaining it, and what you get back when you sell it.