A new analytical report states that global refurbished smartphone sales grew 5% YoY in 2024. Apple almost single-handedly drove growth in the secondary market in 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. It was one of only a few OEMs to increase sales in 2024, resulting in its share increasing to 56% from 51% in 2023.

More and more consumers turned to the secondary market to get their hands on affordable iPhones. Senior Research Analyst Glen Cardoza said, “Apple’s growth this time was mostly made up of older models like the iPhone 11 and 12 series. Even with the iPhone 13 and 14 series being in the market for some time, many consumers held on to these devices for longer, creating a supply crunch.(Click on image to Enlarge)

5G smartphones witnessed a significant surge across brands, accounting for 42% of the global refurbished smartphone market in 2024, up from 28% in 2023. The 2024 share would have been much higher if not for the low stock of newer iPhones traded in between Q2 and Q4 of 2024.