Refurbished devices go mainstream as component costs push new phone, laptop prices up 30-40%
Rising memory and component costs are steering Indian buyers toward certified refurbished smartphones and laptops, forecast to grow 12% in 2026 even as new smartphone shipments fall 11% and laptops slide 9.8% to 14.3M units. Samsung and other brands are scaling official refurbished programmes as the secondary market matures.
What happened
Samsung · Rising component and memory costs are driving Indian consumers toward certified refurbished smartphones and laptops, expected to outperform new
Key facts
- 12% refurbished smartphone growth 2026
- new smartphone shipments -11%
- laptop shipments -9.8% to 14.3M units
- ASP up 10.4% to $302
- 85% models saw price hikes
- ~15% average hike
- 30-40% higher new device prices
Why this matters
The maturing secondary market and brands scaling official refurbished operations create acquisition and partnership openings in certification, reverse logistics, and resale platforms before consolidation raises entry prices.
What to watch
- Memory/DRAM/NAND spot price trend through H1 2026
- Q1 2026 new smartphone and laptop shipment prints vs the -11% / -9.8% forecast
- Samsung/Apple official refurb programme volume and geographic expansion announcements
- Trade-in participation rates and average selling price of certified refurb units
- Any regulatory or BIS certification standards on refurbished electronics
- Consumer complaint/return-rate data signaling quality-trust shifts
- OEMs (Samsung, Apple resellers) expand certified refurbished channels with standardized grading and extended warranties
- E-commerce platforms (Amazon Renewed, Flipkart) push trade-in bundles and financing on refurbished stock
- New-device makers introduce lower-spec value SKUs to defend entry-tier share against refurb
- Telcos and financiers launch EMI/insurance products tailored to certified used devices
- Component-driven repricing of premium new flagships to preserve upgrade-cycle demand