More and more people are choosing used iPhones.

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

iPhone 14 Pro. Photo: Digital Trends .

According to research firm Counterpoint Research , Apple will dominate the refurbished smartphone market in 2024 with a 56% market share, a 5 percentage point increase from 2023. The entire market is also expected to grow by 5%, faster than new smartphones (3%).

Apple is one of the few brands experiencing growth in the refurbished smartphone market. According to analyst Glen Cardoza from Counterpoint Research , more and more people are turning to used devices to get an affordable iPhone.

“Apple’s growth this year has mainly come from older models, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12. Even though the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have been on the market for some time, many people are still using these devices, creating a supply shortage for the used phone market,” Cardoza said.

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

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

Several factors contribute to the increasingly lower average price of used iPhones. Inflation and rising consumer costs are causing many families to spend more cautiously, in addition to the fact that the features on recent generations of smartphones are not significantly different.

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

According to Digital Trends , the iPhone 16 series incorporates many new features, but the performance difference may not be significant compared to the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Features like Apple Intelligence and the Action button may be useful, but basic experiences like making calls, sending messages, and browsing social media are almost identical.

With that in mind, users are keeping their phones longer. Device durability has also improved in recent years, allowing smartphones to "survive" for two years or more without breaking or cracking screens.

For the "like new" phone category – devices that have only been cleaned and repackaged (without undergoing technical inspection) – sales increased by 13% compared to the same period last year.

“Increasing durability of devices leads to better quality, reducing the need for refurbishment. Additionally, rising costs of components, labor, and equipment are causing many companies to simply sell used smartphones to maintain profit margins,” Cardoza added.

The biggest risk with using older smartphones is software updates and security patch support. Apple is known for providing long-term iPhone software updates; many devices still receive security patches 6-7 years after they are discontinued. Therefore, the iPhone 11 is likely to still receive software updates until 2026.

Android devices typically only receive 2-3 years of updates, although Google has increased software support for the Pixel line to up to 7 years. Qualcomm has also announced an 8-year software update program for Android devices. However, the actual duration of support depends on the manufacturer.

Speaking about refurbished smartphones in 2025, analyst Jan Stryjak expects the market to grow more strongly as more people upgrade their devices, with most of the products they are currently using being purchased during the Covid-19 outbreak (2020-2022).