Archive · 2 Sep 2026
India’s Refurbished Phone Market Shifts Upmarket as iPhones Lead
Many people in India are buying used phones that have been repaired and checked.
More buyers are choosing expensive refurbished phones instead of only the cheapest ones.
Apple phones make up more than half of refurbished smartphone sales.
The iPhone 13 is the most popular phone being bought back and resold.
Newer iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models are also starting to appear in resale markets.
People sold old phones back to companies more often in 2025.
The average amount paid for a phone bought back was ₹8,573.
Many households still keep two or three unused phones.
Reusing and repairing these devices could reduce waste and help India develop its electronics industry.
Cashify reported that refurbished-phone demand in India grew 30.8% during 2025.
Devices priced above ₹45,000 reached 17.4% of demand, while sub-₹10,000 phones fell to about 8.4% of direct-to-consumer sales.
Apple accounted for more than 65% of refurbished smartphone sales, led by the iPhone 13.
Mobile buybacks rose 29% year-on-year, and the average buyback value increased 34% to ₹8,573.
India’s manufacturing, repair, reuse and recycling capacity could support a larger refurbishment ecosystem.
- Who
- Indian consumers, Cashify, Apple, and companies involved in manufacturing, repair and resale.
- What
- Refurbished-phone demand is shifting toward costlier devices, with iPhones leading sales and buybacks.
- When
- The main market changes were reported for 2025; manufacturing, exports and e-waste figures cover FY2024-25 and FY2025-26.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Consumers are trading in and buying newer devices, while reuse, repair and refurbishment could extend device lifecycles and support India’s electronics industry.
- Refurbished demand growth
- Demand grew 30.8% in 2025.
- Leading price segment
- The ₹20,000–₹45,000 range accounted for the largest share of refurbished sales.
- Higher-priced demand
- Devices priced above ₹45,000 represented 17.4% of demand.
- Leading brand and model
- Apple accounted for more than 65% of refurbished smartphone sales, with the iPhone 13 leading purchases and buybacks.
- Average buyback value
- The average value rose 34% to ₹8,573.
- 5G resale trend
- The share of 5G devices sold to Cashify increased from 5% in 2022 to more than 54% in 2025.
- E-waste and recycling
- India generated more than 14 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste in FY2025-26, with over 9.79 lakh metric tonnes recycled.
