Emerging economies drove global momentum in the pre-owned smartphone segment throughout the first half of 2025, offsetting a slowdown across mature markets, Counterpoint Research found.

According to the company’s latest Global Secondary Smartphone Market report, while sales across the US, Europe and Japan were largely flat with average growth of 1 per cent year-on-year, emerging regions such as Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Latin America and China posted stronger gains of around 4 per cent.

Africa recorded the fastest growth at 6 per cent, driven by the entry of organised refurbishers, improved supply chain integration and supportive government initiatives. Apple led the region with 7 per cent growth on the back of demand for iPhone 13 and newer models, while Samsung rose 4 per cent due to aggressive Galaxy trade-in promotions.

Meanwhile, India’s pre-owned smartphone market expanded 5 per cent, with Apple surging 19 per cent to the second position behind Samsung. Growing consumer appetite for premium refurbished devices and organised buy-back initiatives across retail and online platforms bolstered second-hand smartphones sales, with Samsung’s Galaxy S22 and S23 models among the top-selling models in India. Counterpoint noted that improved consumer trust in online C2C marketplaces and reduced reliance on Chinese imports strengthened local ecosystems.

Southeast Asia matched India’s growth rate at 5 per cent as Apple captured nearly half the market with 15 per cent growth while Samsung recorded a 3 per cent decline. Refurbished iPhone 12 and 13 models dominated sales across the region.

Rising costs
In contrast, established markets saw limited movement amid rising operational costs, market fragmentation, export declines and regulatory uncertainty. Europe grappled with profitability challenges and tariff-related uncertainty from US President Donald Trump’s controversial trade policies. Meanwhile, the US market remained cautious by maintaining robust inventories of spare parts, while Japan’s pre-owned programs gained traction through certified carrier-backed initiatives.

Globally, Apple’s iPhone 12 and 13 series remain the top refurbished sellers, though Samsung’s Galaxy S range is expected to pick up pace in select markets including the US later this year as demand rises.