If you're torn between the latest iPhone 12 and Samsung's Galaxy S21, a new study confirms one of Apple's main advantages over its rivals.

Every phone decreases in value over time. However, there is a significant difference in the value lost from the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy S21. Moreover, the iPhone 12 has been on the market longer.

According to a survey by used phone site SellCell, the value of Samsung's Galaxy S21 handset has already dropped to 43% of its original value for the 256GB model of the Galaxy S21, despite being on the market for only three months. Meanwhile, Apple's most depreciated model, the basic 64GB iPhone 12, sells for about 67.3% of its original price.

The base iPhone 12 Pro Max, with 128GB of storage, has retained the most value of the models studied; it has lost only 18.1% of its value since its launch in October 2020. Samsung's best performer was the Galaxy S21 Plus with 128GB of storage, but it still lost 44.8% of its value.

According to the second half of the SellCell report, it makes sense that the iPhone holds more value. iPhone users are more likely to remain loyal to Apple than Samsung users. Fewer iPhones are being sold as people replace them with new devices, which means iPhones are holding their price higher. [The iPhone has always been the best phone, but Apple is also very good at maintaining a walled garden ecosystem. While Android users can switch brands and still get a nearly equivalent experience, iPhone users get a completely different and unique experience.

What these numbers show is that iPhone 12 users are in an advantageous position to get most of their money back when they sell or trade in. However, if you are trying to get a fairly new phone at a lower price, it seems that you would be better off looking around for a cheap used Galaxy S21.