BARCELONA - The second-hand market for smartphones has surged in recent years, borne up by lower prices as well as interest in eco-friendly consumption, even as some still fear buying a dud.
Around 46 percent of Europeans have already taken the plunge by buying a second-hand device, marketplace Recommerce found in a 2025 survey commissioned from pollsters Kantar.
But the picture varies around the world, as "mature markets in Europe and parts of North America tend to show higher refurbished uptake", according to a report from analysis firm Mordor Intelligence, which estimates the second-hand market at 10 percent of worldwide phone purchases annually.
Western consumers "are increasingly aligning with circular-economy principles, prioritizing lifecycle extension and reducing electronic waste" as environmental concerns permeate public debate, the authors wrote.
Meanwhile, "several emerging markets remain predominantly new device driven".
Price remains the killer argument for refurbished phones, with second-hand models sometimes half as expensive as a factory-fresh alternative, attracting consumers who have seen purchasing power ground down by inflation.
Almost twice as many respondents to Recommerce's survey named price as a factor in their choice, compared to the environment.
"It gives citizens and consumers yet another reason to not go out and buy a product that's too expensive," said Thibaud Hug de Larauze, co-founder of refurbished tech marketplace Back Market.
Although smartphone sales remain dominated by new devices from hardware giants such as Apple and Samsung, his company achieved profitability for the first time in its 12-year history in 2025.
Meanwhile, the environmental impact of buying a second-hand phone can be significantly lower, avoiding the use of new materials and the carbon emissions that go into producing each device.
"A refurbished phone can have an 87 percent lower climate impact compared to a new phone," said Steven Moore, head of climate action at the GSMA global mobile operators' group.