More and more people choose old iPhones

Not only in the traditional market, Apple leads the used smartphone segment when many people choose used models like the iPhone 11.

iPhone 14 Pro. Photo: Digital Trends .

According to research firm Counterpoint Research , Apple dominates the refurbished smartphone market in 2024 with a market share of 56%, up 5 percentage points from 2023. The overall market also recorded growth of 5%, faster than new smartphones (3%).

Apple is one of the few brands growing in the refurbished smartphone market. According to analyst Glen Cardoza of Counterpoint Research , more and more people are turning to used devices to own affordable iPhones.

“Apple’s growth this year has been driven largely by older models, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series. Even though the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have been on shelves for a while, many people are still using these devices, creating a shortage in the used market,” Cardoza said.

In many markets, the supply of used devices with recent iPhone models is quite modest. High demand has caused the average selling price (ASP) to fall from $445 (in 2023) to $394 , as users can only choose from older models.

5G smartphones will account for a large proportion of the global refurbished phone market, reaching 42% market share in 2024. However, the figure could be higher if iPhones are traded heavily between Q2/2024 and Q4/2024.

Several factors have led to the average price of older iPhones getting lower. Inflation and rising commodity costs have made many families spend more economically, and the features on recent generations of smartphones have not changed much.

Market share of brands in the refurbished smartphone market in 2024. Photo: Counterpoint Research .

According to Digital Trends , the iPhone 16 series integrates many new features, but the performance difference may not be too big compared to the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Features like Apple Intelligence and the Action button may be useful, but basic experiences like calling, texting, surfing social networks... are almost identical.

With that in mind, users are holding on to their phones longer. Device durability has also improved in recent years, allowing smartphones to "survive" for 2 years or more without breaking or cracking the screen.

For the group of "like new" phones - devices that are only cleaned and boxed (without going through a technical inspection process) - sales recorded a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.

“Devices that are more durable mean better quality, reducing the need for refurbishment. Additionally, rising costs for components, labor, and equipment have led many companies to simply sell used smartphones to maintain profit margins,” Cardoza added.

The big risk of using an older smartphone is software updates and security patch support. Apple is famous for its long-term iPhone software updates, with many devices still receiving security patches 6-7 years after they were discontinued. Therefore, the iPhone 11 is likely to continue receiving software updates until 2026.

Android devices tend to only get 2-3 years of updates, although Google has increased the software support period for the Pixel line to a maximum of 7 years. Qualcomm has also announced an 8-year Android device software update program. However, how long the support period lasts depends on the manufacturer.

Talking about refurbished smartphones in 2025, analyst Jan Stryjak expects the market to grow more strongly as more people upgrade their devices, most of which were purchased during the Covid-19 outbreak (2020-2022).