Counterpoint Research released this Monday (24) a report that reveals strong growth in the sale of refurbished smartphones last year compared to the same period in 2021. These devices are those returned to the manufacturer, and, after undergoing review, cleaning and replacement of damaged parts are sold again.
According to the numbers, the global market recorded a 5% increase in this category of devices, while in China the scenario was the opposite with a 17% drop in sales. India was the country that recorded the highest volume in the sale of these cell phones, with an increase of 19% in 2022; Latin America ranks second with 18% pa
The analytical company also collected information on brands with the highest volume of refurbished smartphones, in this case Apple leads with 16% growth in 2022 compared to the previous year. This factor may be impacting shipments of new products sold by the Cupertino giant, but the manufacturer still records good global numbers.
In the case of Samsung, the South Korean saw the number of refurbished cell phones having a discreet drop of 2% last year, going from 28% to 26% in twelve months. Experts say that the level of confidence of consumers with pre-owned devices has been increasing annually, strengthening this market segment.
Counterpoint Research’s Global Refurb Smartphone Tracker report also indicates that people are spending more time with their phones. “Global refurbished markets are undergoing transitions. Supply remains tight as consumers hold onto smartphones longer,” said senior analyst Glen Cardoza.
Cardoza further points out that “At the same time, demand for 5G is increasing, especially in mature markets such as the US, Europe and Japan. In 2022, 5G represented 13% of global sales of refurbishments”.
