Due to the rising prices of memory chips, smartphone manufacturing companies are gradually increasing the prices of mobile phones. Due to the rising prices of phones, now customers seem to be getting disillusioned with the new phones and due to this the buying style of the customers has started changing. Most people are now choosing refurbished devices and exchanging their existing handsets to reduce upgrade costs. According to Counterpoint Research, India’s refurbished smartphone market is expected to grow 12 percent year-on-year in 2026, while shipments in the new smartphone market are expected to decline 11 percent. The research firm said that due to rising prices, some people have started reconsidering buying new devices.
What is Refurbished Phone?
Refurbished Phone It is a device that has been previously used by a person and sold to a manufacturer or a retailer. Whenever a retailer or company buys such a handset, it first inspects the phone and only then the phone is purchased. If explained in simple language, you can understand it like you are using a phone and while getting a new phone, you have exchanged that phone. After being sold, your phone will now be called refurbished, your phone has been sold and when someone else buys that phone, your phone will be sold to that person as refurbished. This means old phone or you can say used phone.
14 percent people are thinking of buying a refurbished phone
Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Counterpoint Research, told Financial Express, due to the continuous increase in smartphone prices, about 14 percent of users are now thinking of buying refurbished smartphones instead of new ones. He said the growing gap between the prices of new and refurbished smartphones is making certified pre-owned devices even more attractive, especially for customers who want premium features at lower prices.
The increase in handset prices is also expected to change the way upgrades are made, as this will motivate more customers to exchange their old smartphones rather than keeping them unused. Tarun Pathak said, this year people will trade more to reduce the initial cost and this will boost secondary supply. Otherwise, such devices usually end up lying in drawers, he added, adding that more trade-ins will improve the availability of refurbished smartphones over time.
What do the refurbished platforms say?
The refurbished smartphone platform said it is already seeing strong demand and high customer interest in the trade-in program. Cashify said demand for refurbished smartphones will continue to grow through 2025 and 2026 and organized trade-in is becoming an essential part of the replacement cycle.
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