Global Secondary Smartphone Market Declines 2% in 1Q25

  • The global second-hand smartphone market fell 2% year-on-year in the first quarter of the year, with Europe seeing a similar dip.
  • The fall was driven by weak retail traffic and heavy promotions in 2024 that pulled demand forward.
  • Despite the decline, the market is expected to recover, especially as trade-in schemes become a growing focus for supply.
  • Only 31% of Europeans currently trade in or sell their old phones, revealing significant potential for improving supply through internal programmes.
  • Regulatory pressures and forward trade-in schemes are driving innovation, helping firms secure device supply and boost residual values.

London, 16 June 2025: The global market for second-hand smartphones slipped 2% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its first year-on-year decline in more than three years, according to CCS Insight, a leading research and analytics firm. The European market mirrored this decline, also dropping 2% in the quarter.

CCS Insight estimates that a modest 27.1 million smartphones were sold in the global organized secondary market in 1Q25. The dip was driven by slow retail footfall and strong promotional offers in 2024, which pulled demand forward and softened sales in early 2025.

Mobile operators have similarly struggled, as consumers increasingly purchase SIM-free devices directly from manufacturers and online marketplaces. But despite this drop, the global market remains in good health to recover the momentum built in previous years as companies prioritize internal trade-in schemes to shore up device supply.

A major challenge throughout 2025, particularly in Europe, will be tightening margins as competition intensifies. There’s an expectation for consolidation in the sector as players seek greater economies of scale to support profitability.

Ben Hatton, Research Analyst at CCS Insight, comments: “The European secondary smartphone market had built strong momentum going into 2025. Consumers were turning away from brand-new devices amid a lack of innovation and ongoing economic pressures — both factors that play to the strengths of the second-hand market. We expect these headwinds to continue weighing on new device sales, which bodes well for second-hand options”.

Hatton adds, “This quarter’s decline is nothing more than a blip as the market gathers pace over the course of the year. Recovery in larger and more mature markets like France and the UK, which suffered much bigger declines of 11% and 3%, respectively, will be a key indicator of the overall strength of the sector in the rest of 2025”.

A major focus of the European secondary smartphone market in 2025 and beyond will be to improve the internal supply of devices through trade-in schemes. A host of telecom operators, manufacturers and retailers are developing new or improved programmes amid regulatory pressures, supply shortages and environmental targets.

Only 31% of Europeans sell or trade in their old phone when buying a new one, according to CCS Insight’s survey into mobile buying behaviours, suggesting there’s a pool of 100 million smartphones every year for players to target as these schemes ramp up.

Hatton continues: “The regulatory landscape in Europe is encouraging players to pay much closer attention to trade-in as it restricts their ability to source devices from outside the region. Despite the slow quarter, success stories have come from businesses reporting good buyback of devices at the end of 2024. Companies that can secure supply through their own trade-in programmes will benefit in the long run as imported devices are restricted”.

Simon Bryant, Vice President of Research, concludes: “We’re seeing growing interest in “forward trade-in” schemes that guarantee a future buyback price for a consumer’s phone at the time of purchase. These programmes help businesses lock consumers into trade-in agreements, improving take-back and supporting higher residual values for the leading brands in the secondary market — Samsung’s Galaxy Club* in the UK is a good example. We’ll be watching closely how these programmes boost trade-in in Europe in the coming year”.

* See: Samsung Offers UK Shoppers 50% Back on Galaxy S25 Purchases

About CCS Insight

CCS Insight’s research and advisory services keep technology companies informed of current and future trends in a range of industries. Its global insights provide technology professionals with clarity and confidence in their decision-making processes.

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