Refurbished iPhones Surge as Apple Hikes India Prices: Report
As Apple launches its new iPhone 18 series with higher prices and implements significant hikes across its existing iPhone lineup in India, the refurbished smartphone market is witnessing a remarkable boom. Demand for pre-owned iPhones, particularly the popular iPhone 13, grew by 30.8% in 2025. Apple captured over 65% of refurbished smartphone sales on.
New Delhi, India – September 14, 2026 – The Indian smartphone market is witnessing a significant shift. Apple’s recent launch of the iPhone 18 series, alongside sweeping price adjustments across its existing iPhone lineup, is reportedly making refurbished models a more compelling proposition for aspirational buyers. Industry analysts indicate that these price hikes, affecting both the newly launched flagship variants and older models, are reshaping consumer behaviour and fuelling the demand for pre-owned, certified devices.
While the newly launched flagship, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, starts at ₹1,79,900 for the 256GB variant in India, the broader price increases across Apple’s existing range, some reportedly up to 43 per cent depending on the model, are causing many budget-conscious consumers to explore alternatives. This comes as the overall Indian smartphone market faces challenges, with volumes declining by 10% year-on-year in Q2 2026, driven by cautious spending and rising device costs. iPhone Duo Price Meme: Santy Sharma’s ‘Kidney’ Joke With AI Image Goes Viral.
The Refurbished Market's Remarkable Ascent
The refurbished smartphone market in India is experiencing robust growth, driven by a desire for premium features without the premium new device price tag. According to Cashify's 'Great Indian Upgrade 2026' report, demand for refurbished devices surged by 30.8% in 2025. Counterpoint Research projects this segment to grow by 16% in 2026, with volumes already up 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2026.
A key trend within this growth is the 'premiumisation' of refurbished phones. The share of refurbished smartphone sales priced above ₹45,000 increased from 10.9% in 2024 to 17.4% in 2025 on the Cashify platform. Devices exceeding ₹60,000 nearly doubled their share, from 3.4% to 6.2% in the same period. This indicates that buyers are increasingly willing to spend more on high-end refurbished devices, seeking greater value for their money. The average smartphone buyback value also rose significantly by 34%, from ₹6,401 in 2024 to ₹8,573 in 2025.
Apple's Dominance in Pre-Owned Premium
Apple has carved out a dominant position in India's refurbished smartphone ecosystem. Data from Cashify for 2025 reveals that iPhones accounted for a staggering 65.3% of all refurbished smartphone sales on its platform, while also representing 32.6% of total buybacks. The iPhone 13 emerged as the most popular refurbished model, making up 15.5% of refurbished sales and 6.93% of overall buybacks in 2025. Even newer generations like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 are now entering the secondary market, feeding the demand for premium, yet more affordable, options.
Counterpoint Research's H1 2026 data, while showing Samsung leading the overall organised refurbished smartphone market with a 30% share, places Apple second at 23%, highlighting its significant presence even amidst a wider brand landscape. Details were provided by Business Standard report.,
Why Consumers Are Opting for Refurbished
The shift is driven by a confluence of factors:
- Affordability: Consumers can access premium specifications and flagship experiences, like those offered by the iPhone 13, at a significantly lower cost than buying new.
- Trust and Warranty: The growth of organised players like Cashify, and initiatives such as Samsung's 'Certified Re-Newed' programme, instil greater confidence in buyers through rigorous checks, authentic components, and warranties.
- Sustainability: A growing awareness of environmental impact is also nudging consumers towards extending the lifecycle of devices.
- Technology Access: The secondary market is no longer a dumping ground for obsolete tech. The share of 5G smartphones in refurbished sales soared from 18.4% in 2024 to 61% in 2025, reflecting the availability of relatively current technology. India Smartphone Prices Soar 21% in 2026: Know Why Your Next Phone May Cost More.
Mandeep Manocha, Co-Founder and CEO of Cashify, articulated this shift, stating that the industry's next phase of growth will come from creating more value throughout a device's lifecycle, with trade-ins and certified refurbished devices expanding access to flagship technology. As new smartphone prices continue their upward trajectory, particularly in the entry and mid-range segments, the appeal of a meticulously checked, warranted refurbished iPhone at a more attractive price point is only set to increase for Indian consumers.
Disclaimer: AI tools assisted in compiling the foundational data and research for this report. The final content was reviewed, edited and verified by human editors at LatestLY.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2026 06:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
