Observed Signal · Oct 5, 2026 · Study · Source: Retail-News · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Swappie Study: Old Smartphones Idle Over 15 Months
A study commissioned by Swappie among 1,000 German adults reveals that consumers hold onto old smartphones, tablets, and laptops for an average of over 15 months before selling or trading them. 58% of those who sold or traded a device in the past five years report losing money due to waiting too long, with average proceeds of €460. Nearly 70% regret the delay. Key barriers include the desire to keep a backup device, doubts about device condition, and a lack of knowledge about rapid depreciation. 46% don't know how quickly devices lose value, and only 8% are aware that a device can lose over half its value within six months. Swappie, which currently buys iPhones and iPads with MacBooks coming soon, uses these findings to promote its trade-in model, highlighting that earlier resale benefits the refurbished market.
The study provides insights into consumer behavior regarding resale of used electronics, relevant to the re-commerce and refurbished market but not a major industry shift.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Swappie commissioned a study of 1,000 German adults showing old devices idle for over 15 months on average.
- 58% of respondents who sold/traded a device lost money due to waiting too long.
- Average resale proceeds were €460.
- 46% of respondents don't know how quickly electronic devices lose resale value.
- Swappie currently buys iPhones and iPads; MacBooks will follow in coming months.
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Swappie Adds Refurbished MacBooks Amid Storage Price Rise
Swappie, known for refurbished iPhones, has expanded its product portfolio to include refurbished MacBooks alongside iPads and AirPods. CEO Jussi Lystimäki told t3n the company waited until its iPhone business became profitable before broadening categories; refurbished AirPods were launched in March 2026. The launch is timed ahead of the Back-to-School season to enable scaling. The move comes as consumer storage prices have risen in recent months because component makers favour more lucrative sales to AI datacenter customers; Apple has also raised Mac prices, making refurbished alternatives potentially more attractive.
Resale Market for Used Smartphones Growing
An analysis by B2B resale portal B-Stock indicates that the resale value of used smartphones has increased in recent months, making it worthwhile for consumers to sell old devices. The market has seen a rise in prices for devices in various conditions, with C-grade devices now outselling D-grade ones. Specific examples include the iPhone 17 Pro Max averaging $940 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra reaching $425 after the Galaxy S26 launch. B-Stock suggests that manufacturers are buying older devices to recover valuable components for reuse, which is becoming increasingly important due to the RAM crisis. This trend may help stabilize device prices, though major manufacturers still prefer raising new device prices.
Smartphone makers push leasing and subscription ownership
As premium smartphones become more expensive and replacement cycles lengthen, manufacturers including Apple and Samsung are expanding leasing, subscription and guaranteed buyback programs to make upgrades more attractive and to secure a steady stream of trade-in devices for refurbishment. Apple launched an Upgrade leasing program in the U.S. with Klarna, while Samsung runs Galaxy Forever in India. Analysts and market firms (Counterpoint Research, IDC) report longer replacement cycles and higher average device lifetimes, which is driving experimentation with alternative ownership and financing models. Startups such as BytePe, Raylo, Grover and Cashify are also building subscription and refurbishment businesses around this trend. Industry voices note these programs support secondary markets and customer retention, but whether leasing is financially better depends on individual upgrade frequency and device resale values.
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