San Mateo, CA and Chicago, IL, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New knowledge from each Circana and B-Inventory reveals the age of smartphones traded-in reached an all-time excessive throughout the 2025 improve cycle, with most units being three generations again or older. The info additionally reveals that regardless of getting older trade-in stock, pre-owned smartphones are in excessive demand globally, and gaining belief amongst customers as extra OEMs and cellular carriers spend money on Licensed Pre-Owned (CPO) packages.
Circana knowledge reveals that as of October 2025, roughly 11% of U.S. customers personal a pre-owned smartphone, with roughly 30% of these being licensed fashions. Particular to CPO packages, client belief seems to have significantly improved: practically half of pre-owned patrons report cellphone situation was “a lot better” than anticipated. And, as considerations about situation, {hardware} efficiency, and battery life have eased, 75% of customers who purchased their present telephones in new situation report they’d think about a CPO gadget as an choice, demonstrating rising belief in refurbished units.
“The pre-owned smartphone market within the U.S. stays extremely resilient, pushed by sturdy client demand for reasonably priced, high-quality units, in addition to the rising pool of second-hand units coming into the market,” stated Brad Akyuz, Business Analyst Marketing consultant, Cellular at Circana. “On the similar time, the standard of labor being achieved by the wi-fi neighborhood with respect to refurbishment, together with elevated use of real elements, and introducing better transparency and standardization throughout the secondary market, has altered purchaser expectations and improved perceptions of gadget situation.”
This mounting belief and demand has resulted within the pre-owned market outpacing the brand new market with provide steadily rising as trade-ins have change into an integral a part of carriers’ retention packages. Nevertheless, prolonged possession cycles are actually reshaping pre-owned provide. B-Inventory knowledge reveals that units 5 generations outdated or older (N-5+) accounted for 19% of all pre-owned smartphone provide in 2025, that’s up 75% from 2022. On the similar time, this similar knowledge reveals D and E grade units reached record-high ranges, signaling a noticeable skew towards lower-quality stock as gadget lifecycles proceed to stretch.
The impact of this getting older provide pool is a tightening home marketplace for pre-owned provide, particularly CPO units. “Ageing, lower-grade fashions sometimes aren’t eligible for U.S.-based CPO packages as they often require newer technology units in A/B grade situation,” stated Sean Cleland, VP of Cellular at B-Inventory. “As carriers stretch fee phrases out to 36 months, customers are holding onto units longer and fewer trade-ins meet these thresholds. Whereas the quantity of trade-ins could also be wholesome, the composition is shifting away from what CPO packages want.”
Concurrently, there’s heightened worldwide competitors pulling quantity offshore. B-Inventory worldwide cargo knowledge reveals {that a} roughly 15% devaluation of the U.S. greenback made American units considerably extra engaging to abroad patrons in 2025. In consequence, worldwide shipments of U.S.-sourced pre-owned smartphones practically tripled yr over yr. Dubai and Hong Kong accounted for about 80% of worldwide quantity, whereas the Netherlands and Spain emerged as fast-growing export locations. Demand was notably sturdy throughout Southern Europe, the place older fashions such because the iPhone 6, 7, and eight stay in energetic use.
“Worldwide refurbishers, particularly in areas the place labor and elements are cheaper, are competing aggressively for the older provide,” stated Cleland. “These dynamics are beginning to squeeze home refurbishers that don’t have the identical value construction or entry to stock.”
About Circana
Circana is a frontrunner in offering know-how, AI, and knowledge to fast-moving client packaged items firms, durables producers, and retailers looking for to optimize their companies. Circana’s predictive analytics and know-how empower shoppers to measure their market share, perceive the underlying client conduct driving it, and speed up their progress. Circana’s Liquid Knowledge® know-how platform is powered by an expansive, high-quality knowledge set, and clever algorithms skilled on six a long time of area experience. With Circana, shoppers can take quick motion to future-proof and evolve their progress methods amid an more and more complicated, fast-paced, and ever-changing financial system.
About B-Inventory
B-Inventory is the world’s largest B2B recommerce platform and system of report for all resale. We join sellers and patrons of returned, trade-in, and overstock stock via a set of on-line resale channels. Our clients vary from the world’s largest manufacturers and retailers that need best-in-class stock resale administration to entrepreneurs seeking to supply precious merchandise for his or her resale companies.
With lots of of hundreds of transactions accomplished yearly, we imagine know-how and entry drive a wholesome B2B resale ecosystem. B-Inventory provides patrons a easy and direct manner to purchase precious merchandise instantly from retailers and presents sellers a technology-driven substitute for conventional resale strategies, whereas boosting operational effectivity, restoration charges, and cycle time.
