The refurbished smartphone market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.69% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 51.79 billion. The growth of the market depends on several factors, including circular economy and sustainability, growth in the smartphone repair industry, and increased product launches to accelerate market growth.
This report extensively covers market segmentation by OS (android and IOS), price range (low-priced, medium-priced, and premium), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). It also includes an in-depth analysis of drivers, trends, and challenges. Furthermore, the report includes historic market data from 2017 to 2021.
What will be the size of the Refurbished Smartphone Market During the Forecast Period?

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Refurbished Smartphone Market: Key Drivers, Trends, Challenges, and Customer Landscape
The circular economy and sustainability are notably driving the market growth, although factors such as trust issues associated with a refurbished smartphone may impede the market growth. Our researchers analyzed the data with 2022 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
Key Refurbished Smartphone Market Driver
The circular economy and sustainability are notably driving market growth. The United States, China, Japan, Germany, and India generate large amounts of e-waste, including computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices. According to India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, approximately 5.2 million tons of e-waste was generated in India in 2020. A large portion of this waste belongs to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) waste, such as refurbished smartphones (TVs), laptops, mobiles, etc.
In order to mitigate the environmental impact of e-waste, several countries are shifting towards a circular economy. For instance, the Indian government introduced the e-waste management rule on 23rd March 2016. In addition, the refurbishing smartphone will reduce the carbon footprint and recycling cost, as refurbished components used in smartphones will reduce overall recycling costs. Therefore, such factors are anticipated to drive the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.
Significant Refurbished Smartphone Market Trend
The rising demand from developing countries is an emerging trend in the market. Factors such as emerging markets, increasing demand for cheaper products, and the prevalence of smartphones in developing countries are increasing the demand for refurbished smartphones. In addition, rapid urbanization in developing countries, increasing brand share in the mid-range segment, and rising demand for advanced features at low prices are expected to drive the global market during the forecast period.
Furthermore, increasing consumer reliance on electronic devices in developing countries is necessary to support demand in the global refurbished and used mobile phone market. Smartphone makers in developing countries are investing resources in new jobs to produce high-quality mobile phones that can quickly meet the mechanical requirements of their customers. Moreover, such factors are expected to boost the global market during the forecast period.
Major Refurbished Smartphone Market Challenge
The trust issues associated with refurbished smartphones are major challenges impeding market growth. Refurbished smartphones usually have a much shorter warranty period than brand-new phones. It does not always have the latest technology and may have defects (scratches, dents). Refurbished products may also not have software updates. Many fully functional phones are retired each year as they end support for security updates. If the software is not updated, the device may become insecure and can be easily hacked.
Moreover, some refurbished phone dealers install new batteries, but this is not always the case. Devices that have been in use for several years have already lost some of their battery capacity, thus, buying such refurbished phones can lead to customer dissatisfaction. Hence, trust issues associated with a refurbished product may hamper the growth of the global market in focus during the forecast period.
Key Refurbished Smartphone Market Customer Landscape
The report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies.

Global Refurbished Smartphone Market Customer Landscape
Who are the Major Refurbished Smartphone Market Vendors?
Vendors are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.
Back Market - The company offers a range of refurbished electronics with warranties, money-back guarantees, and seller ratings. The key offerings of the company include refurbished smartphones.
The report also includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about 15 market vendors, including:
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
- Apple Inc.
- AT and T Inc.
- Best Buy Co. Inc.
- eBay Inc.
- Gadgetwood E Services Pvt. Ltd.
- HOMES SOLUTION LTD.
- Manak Waste Management Pvt. Ltd.
- NIPPON TELEPHONE INC
- One97 Communications Ltd.
- Qarmatek Services Pvt. Ltd.
- Quikr India Pvt. Ltd.
- Reboxed Ltd.
- Refurboffers
- Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.
What is the Fastest-Growing Segment in the Refurbished Smartphone Market?
The market share growth by the android segment will be significant during the forecast period. The Android operating system (OS) is the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. Owing to the low cost and availability of a variety of features, the refurbished Android OS has been gaining popularity among consumers globally. There are many vendors that offer the Android operating system, but Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung) has its own operating system. For example, Samsung Electronics uses its Tizen OS for smartphones.

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The android segment was valued at USD 25.67 billion in 2017 and continued to grow until 2021. The growing interest in circular economy models is one of the main drivers of growth in this segment. The growth of circular businesses is driving partnerships and interactions between sellers and refurbishers in the marketplace. Apart from that, high purchase prices and lack of new disruptive features in android phones slowed down consumer replacement rates of older phones. Moreover, the demand for repair services and remanufactured smartphones is also increasing, especially in emerging markets. Most of the established vendors have started selling their refurbished products on their official websites. As the demand for refurbished android smartphones increases, other vendors are expected to launch their websites for selling refurbished smartphones, which is expected to fuel the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.
Which are the Key Regions for the Refurbished Smartphone Market?

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APAC is estimated to contribute 49% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period. In recent years, the APAC market has grown significantly. China, India, and Indonesia are the major revenue-generating countries in the region. The growth of the market in this region is driven by various factors such as the development of telecommunication infrastructure, rising smartphone prices, and the lack of disruptive features in android smartphones. As the prices of smartphones remain high-end, many APAC consumers prefer refurbished models from big-name brands such as Apple and Samsung. Such factors will contribute to the growth of the regional market during the forecast period.
In 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted the growth of the market in APAC. However, the resumption of manufacturing activities, after lifting the nationwide lockdowns and large-scale vaccination drives in prominent countries in APAC, such as India, China, Japan, and South Korea, in 2021 resulted in the growth of the market in the region. Furthermore, the regional market is expected to witness high growth, owing to the growing availability of online platforms offering refurbished premiums smartphones in this region at affordable prices during the forecast period.
Segment Overview
The report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest trends and growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027.
- OS Outlook (USD Billion, 2017 - 2027)
- Price Range Outlook (USD Billion, 2017 - 2027)
- Low-priced
- Medium-priced
- Premium
- Region Outlook (USD Billion, 2017 - 2027)
- Europe
- The U.K.
- Germany
- France
- Rest of Europe
- Middle East & Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Rest of the Middle East & Africa
- South America
Parent Market Analysis
Technavio categorizes the global refurbished smartphone market as a part of the global consumer electronics market within the global household durables market. The parent market, the global consumer electronics market, covers products and companies engaged in the manufacturing/marketing of consumer robotics, home audio and video products, televisions, digital cameras, and related products. Our research report has extensively covered external factors influencing the parent market growth during the forecast period.
Refurbished Smartphone Market Scope
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Report Coverage
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Details
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Page number
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154
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Base year
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2022
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Historic period
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2017-2021
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Forecast period
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2023-2027
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Growth momentum & CAGR
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Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.69%
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Market growth 2023-2027
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USD 51.79 billion
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Market structure
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Fragmented
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YoY growth 2022-2023(%)
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12.44
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Regional analysis
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APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa
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Performing market contribution
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APAC at 49%
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Key countries
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US, China, India, Indonesia, and UK
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Competitive landscape
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Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
Key companies profiled
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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Apple Inc., AT and T Inc., Back Market, Best Buy Co. Inc., eBay Inc., Gadgetwood E Services Pvt. Ltd., HOMES SOLUTION LTD., Manak Waste Management Pvt. Ltd., NIPPON TELEPHONE INC, One97 Communications Ltd., Qarmatek Services Pvt. Ltd., Quikr India Pvt. Ltd., Reboxed Ltd., Refurboffers, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Smart Cellular, Verizon Communications Inc., Walmart Inc., and Amazon.com Inc.
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Market dynamics
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Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period.
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Customization purview
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If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.
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What are the Key Data Covered in this Refurbished Smartphone Market Report?
- CAGR of the market during the forecast period
- Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the refurbished smartphone market between 2023 and 2027
- Precise estimation of the size of the refurbished smartphone market size and its contribution to the parent market
- Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior
- Growth of the market industry across APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa
- A thorough analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors
- Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of refurbished smartphone market vendors
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