Refurbished gadgets go mainstream as India's certified pre-owned market eyes double-digit 2026 growth
Rising new-device prices are pushing Indian buyers toward certified refurbished smartphones and laptops. The organised market is projected to grow ~12% in 2026, with the ₹15,000-₹30,000 segment driving roughly two-thirds of sales and premium brands like Apple and Samsung benefiting from ~3-year replacement cycles.
What happened
Refurbished electronics market (India) · India's organised refurbished smartphone and laptop market is projected to grow double digits in 2026 as rising
Key facts
- ~12% growth refurbished smartphone market
- ₹15,000-₹30,000 segment ~two-thirds of sales
- ~3 years avg replacement cycle
Why this matters
Rising new-device prices legitimizing certified pre-owned creates M&A and partnership openings in refurbishment platforms and premium-brand trade-in pipelines.
What to watch
- New-device price movements and forex-driven component costs
- Trade-in volume trends and average acquisition cost per unit
- OEM announcements on certified pre-owned expansion in India
- Consumer-protection or BIS-style grading regulation signals
- Financing penetration in the ₹15K-₹30K segment
- OEMs expand official certified pre-owned channels and trade-in incentives to control resale value and capture the aftermarket
- Retailers bundle refurbished stock with EMI financing and extended warranties to de-risk purchase
- Refurbishers invest in trade-in acquisition networks and diagnostics to secure supply of quality devices
- Insurers and warranty providers launch refurbished-specific coverage products