The Ultimate Guide to Must-Have Wholesale Apple Devices for Distributors and Suppliers

Why Apple Devices Are Essential for Wholesale Inventory

Apple presides over a product line of the best-selling consumer electronics in the wholesale business. Each individual Apple device, from the iPad to the AirPod, defines the product category and takes the majority of the profits in that sector.

As a wholesaler, you want to stock the most in-demand products with the highest profit margin that retain the most value over time. Inevitably, those are Apple products. This article is a rundown of the most valuable wholesale Apple devices to have in your inventory.

Best-Selling Apple iPads for Wholesale

In recent years, Apple’s iPad line-up has split into three tiers: the basic iPad (most affordable), the iPad Air (middle-tier technology), and the iPad Pro (top-end technology). There’s also the iPad Mini, a small-form-factor iPad that is rarely updated. Counterintuitively, the most expensive iPads are the most popular; Apple sells more iPad Pros than any other model. This trend may not necessarily hold for the secondary market, where participants are typically looking to save money. A well-prepared iPad wholesaler should stock inventory from every iPad model line, including the basic iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

High-Demand Apple MacBooks for Wholesale

Among Apple devices for wholesalers, the MacBook is sometimes overlooked. For the last decade, the Mac has generated between 8 and 12 percent of Apple’s overall revenue. That may not sound like much, but it translates to billions of dollars in sales. As of 2024, there were 100 million MacBook users. In short, MacBooks are a large and growing market worthy of the attention of resellers and wholesalers. MacBooks are used for a wide variety of business and leisure computing tasks: 35% of users are software engineers, while 40% are gamers. Wholesalers should stock the lightweight MacBook Air, as well as the more powerful MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air is available in 13-inch and 15-inch variants, while the MacBook Pro is sold in 14-inch and 16-inch models.

Wholesale Apple Watches: A Profitable Niche

Apple wholesalers shouldn’t forget about a relatively new product category: the smartwatch. Apple Watches lead the industry in smartwatch sales, composing about a quarter of the market. While Apple Watch sales in 2024 declined slightly, the overall category remains strong, with 48 billion dollars in worldwide revenue for 2024. The Apple Watch line-up has three levels: The Apple Watch SE is the most affordable option, the Series 10 is the mainstay bestseller of the line-up, and the Ultra 2 is at the top end of the market. Wholesalers should expect to do the most volume with prior editions, such as the Series 9 and Series 8.

AirPods & Accessories: Small but Profitable Additions

No discussion of wholesale Apple devices would be complete without mentioning AirPods and assorted device accessories such as cases, cables, and chargers. As of 2025, AirPods come in several varieties: basic AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with noise canceling, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. Surveys of American wireless headphone owners indicate that Apple commands about a third of the market, with Apple-owned Beats coming in second. Wholesalers should focus their inventory on the best-selling AirPods 3rd and 4th generation models while also stocking a smaller number of AirPods Pro and Max to serve the high end of the market.

Sourcing & Managing Apple Wholesale Inventory

Apple manufactures a diverse array of products: smartwatches, headphones, tablets, laptops, and smartphones. These products dominate their categories and boast impressive value retention over time. You could easily build a wholesale business just by stocking Apple products. The best Apple devices define the product type: Ask someone to name a smartphone, and most will say iPhone; likewise, for tablets, people will say iPad. The same goes for smartwatches (Apple Watch) and wireless earphones (AirPods).

To source a robust pipeline of used Apple devices, it pays to cultivate a close relationship with a supplier who maintains connections to manufacturers and major carriers. These are the primary sources of device trade-ins on the secondary market. You can also source products directly from online marketplaces, but quality can be highly variable, and it can take a lot of time to assemble meaningful quantities.

FAQs

Which Apple devices have the highest resale value in 2025?

Resale values depreciate over time. Current-generation devices command the highest prices, followed by last-gen devices and prior generations. This pattern holds for iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPads, and AirPods.

What’s the most profitable Apple Watch model for bulk resale?

Are older iPhones (iPhone 11, iPhone XR) still worth buying in bulk?

What storage sizes and configurations sell best in the wholesale market?

How often should I refresh my Apple wholesale inventory?