• Source:JND
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Cashify's whitepaper The Great Indian Upgrade 2025 shows that Apple remains the top brand in India's refurbished smartphone market, accounting for 62.9% of sales during the first half of 2025 – slightly down from their 64.5% share seen during 2024 but still far ahead of rivals.

What this means is simple: three out of every five refurbished phone buyers in India are choosing an iPhone, proving Apple’s strong hold even in the resale market.

iPhones Lead the Refurbished Race

Cashify’s report highlights how Apple remains the undisputed leader in refurbished sales:

Apple – 62.9% share (H1 2025)

OnePlus – 10.2%

Xiaomi – 9.7%

Samsung – 6.1%

Vivo – 3.2% (up from 2.1% in 2024, making it the fastest climber)

Even with a slight dip compared to last year, Apple’s share is still several times higher than its closest competitors.

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Premium iPhones in High Demand

The report points out that demand is strongest in the Rs 60,000+ premium category, which saw a 33% year-on-year growth. Popular models in the resale market include:

- iPhone 14 Pro

- iPhone 13 Pro Max

- iPhone 12 Pro

India has an ever-increasing penchant for premium technology, as evidenced by their exportation of 151 million smartphones with an average selling price of Rs 22,100 in 2024.

Cashify’s Co-founder & CEO, Mandeep Manocha, summed it up well: “Three out of every five refurbished buyers opting for iPhones reflects how Apple is now the default aspirational brand in India’s second-hand market. What used to be niche is now mainstream, with structured resale unlocking affordability and trust.”

The “Drawer Economy” and Consumer Trends

The study also throws light on how Indian consumers treat their old smartphones:

- 33% sell old phones to fund upgrades

- 40% are motivated by buyback incentives

- 70% keep two or three unused phones at home—Cashify calls this the “Drawer Economy”

While 63% of sellers offload their devices within six months of upgrading, a large chunk—77% of resales—still happen through informal grey channels.

Repair vs Replace: The Global Picture

Interestingly, 57.9% of shoppers say they’d rather repair their devices than replace them. But real-world factors like economic barriers and chip shortages limit adoption.

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India will play an instrumental role in this market due to their longevity and resale value of iPhone products, projected to reach $219.7 billion by 2033.

Conclusion

Apple’s dominance in India’s refurbished smartphone market shows no signs of fading. Even with a slight dip, iPhones still account for nearly two-thirds of all resales, far surpassing competitors. Rising demand for premium iPhones, coupled with structured resale programs, has made Apple the default choice in India’s growing second-hand market. With affordability and trust improving, the refurbished iPhone market looks set to remain Apple’s stronghold for years to come.