India increasingly buys refurbished iPhones, driven by price gaps between refurbished and new models. One report says iPhone 16 refurbished units are about 35% cheaper, while iPhone 17 refurbished units are around 25% less expensive, compared with new devices.
The move reflects shifting smartphone market dynamics. The same account projects that the second-hand smartphone market grows by about 12% in 2026, while the market for new handsets declines by roughly 11%. Across coverage, the differing emphasis is less about specific device issues and more about affordability and market direction—refurbished products are positioned as a cost-conscious alternative as demand patterns change.
With limited additional outlets provided here, most agreed framing centers on the widening cost differential and the expectation that refurbished sales expand as new-phone volumes soften, rather than on any single brand or incident.
