Refurbished iPhones gain popularity in India as new smartphone prices rise; iPhone 13, 14 and 15 lead demand

India's refurbished smartphone market is gaining momentum as increasingly expensive new handsets push consumers towards more budget-friendly alternatives. Older iPhone models are emerging as popular choices, giving a boost to the second-hand smartphone segment despite a slowdown in sales of new devices.

Also Read: How to permanently delete your Snapchat account: Follow these steps on Android, iPhone and computer to deactivate your account

ControlZ, a refurbished electronics retailer, witnessed 100% growth during the festive season, driven primarily by demand for the iPhone 13, 14 and 15 series, its founder and CEO Yug Bhatia said. He noted that the Rs 30,000-50,000 price bracket was the company's best-performing category.


"When an entry-level Android phone costs about the same as a like-new iPhone, most buyers prefer the iPhone," Bhatia said.

He estimated that India's pre-owned smartphone market comprises nearly 5 crore units, of which iPhones account for around 15-20%. Bhatia said the availability of devices was adequate, but bringing more structure to the largely unorganised market was necessary to expand access to refurbished smartphones, particularly in smaller towns.

Refurbished phones above Rs 50,000 see higher demand

Cashify, another retailer operating in the refurbished electronics market, reported a more than twofold increase in sales of refurbished smartphones costing above Rs 50,000. Trade-ins within this price segment also registered growth of more than four times.

Overall, the company recorded a 25% increase in exchange volumes, with the average trade-in value reaching Rs 15,105. The growth was not restricted to major cities, with smaller markets also contributing significantly to the trend.

Trade-in volumes in Tier 3 cities and beyond rose 49%, compared with a 39% increase across India's six metropolitan cities. Motorola and Google recorded the highest growth in upgrade and trade-in activity, at 79% and 74%, respectively. Samsung, meanwhile, remained the leading brand in terms of overall volumes.

iPhone 15, 16 and 17 models see increased exchange activity

The trend towards smartphone upgrades is also evident in the models being exchanged by consumers. According to Cashify, more users are now trading in relatively newer devices, including smartphones from the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series.

The development suggests that consumers are replacing their smartphones more frequently while attempting to get better resale value for their existing devices.

Rising smartphone prices drive refurbished market growth

The growing popularity of refurbished smartphones comes amid increasing pressure on India's new smartphone market, with higher handset prices influencing purchasing decisions.

[With TOI inputs]