Pre-owned smartphone market showing its age: Report

"The age of smartphones that were traded in reached a record high during the 2025 upgrade cycle, according to a new report from Circana and B-Stock. Most of the devices traded in were at least three generations old, yet even older phones are in high demand on a global basis. As of October 2025, nearly 11% of U.S. consumers own a pre-owned smartphone, with almost one-third (30%) of those being certified pre-owned (CPO) models."

"The report found that nearly half of pre-owned buyers said the CPO smartphone they purchased was "much better" than expected, while three quarters of consumers who bought their current phones in new condition report they'd consider a CPO device as an option. The result is that the pre-owned market now outpaces the new market with supply steadily increasing as trade-ins have become an integral part of carriers' retention programs."

""The pre-owned smartphone market in the U.S. remains incredibly resilient, driven by strong consumer demand for affordable, high-quality devices, as well as the growing pool of second-hand devices entering the market," Brad Akyuz, Circana industry analyst consultant, mobile, said in a prepared statement about the pre-owned smartphone report. "At the same time, the quality of work being done by the wireless community with respect to refurbishment, including increased use of genuine parts, and introducing greater transparency and standardization across the secondary market, has altered buyer expectations and improved perceptions of device condition.""

Trade-ins hit a record high during the 2025 upgrade cycle, with most traded devices at least three generations old and older models in strong global demand. Nearly 11% of U.S. consumers owned pre-owned smartphones by October 2025, and roughly 30% of those were certified pre-owned (CPO). Nearly half of pre-owned buyers reported their CPO purchases exceeded expectations, and 75% of new-device buyers would consider a CPO option. Pre-owned supply now outpaces new devices as trade-ins fuel carriers' retention programs. Devices five generations old or older comprised 19% of supply, up 75% since 2022. Improvements in refurbishment, genuine parts use, transparency, and standardization have raised buyer expectations and perceptions of device condition.

Read at Telecompetitor