Customs officials attributed the revision to falling global prices for older smartphones. Models like the iPhone naturally lose value as they age and approach the end of their primary retail lifespan

Reeling under a bad economy, Pakistan has revised the rates and duties on used smartphones to make them cheaper, as new buyers find it difficult to purchase devices under the current values.

The country’s Customs Valuation Department has also set new assessment values of high-end smartphones, including the iPhone 14 and its variants, as well as the iPhone 15 series.

Customs officials attributed the revision to falling global prices for older smartphones. Models like the iPhone naturally lose value as they age and approach the end of their primary retail lifespan, according to a report by Dawn.  

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The reassessment of prices was also done to align valuations with market rates and to make used smartphones more affordable for citizens.

Officials explained that the lower valuations are designed to reflect real-world prices, potentially lowering retail costs by reducing the tax burden. This update covers 62 different handsets across four leading brands.

The new values were determined by auditing market data and official trade-in prices from companies such as Samsung and Google. Currently, mobile phones are subject to a complex tax structure, including sales tax, withholding tax, and specific levies, all of which are calculated based on these government-notified values.

Revised assessments for 2026 show a significant drop in the valuation of used smartphones compared to 2024 levels. Used iPhones saw the most dramatic adjustments, with values slashed between 32 per cent and 81 per cent. For instance, the iPhone 12 Pro fell from $280 to $155, while the 12 Pro Max dropped from $340 to $215. Similar trends hit the iPhone 13 (now $170, down from $280) and the iPhone XS Max, which plummeted to $95 from $150.

Even relatively recent flagship models were not immune; the iPhone 13 Pro Max was adjusted down to $295 from $430. Additionally, the department established inaugural values for the iPhone 15 series, with the Pro Max set at $460 and the base model at $310.

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