New data from Circana and B-Stock indicates that the average age of smartphones traded in during the 2025 upgrade cycle has reached an all-time high. Most devices entering the secondary channel are now three generations old or older, reflecting extended ownership cycles and longer carrier financing terms. According to B-Stock, devices classified as N-5 or older accounted for 19% of all pre-owned smartphone supply in 2025, representing a 75% increase compared with 2022. This shift marks a structural change in trade-in flows. While overall trade-in volumes remain healthy, the composition of inventory is increasingly skewed toward older models, altering grading distributions and downstream refurbishment economics. D and E grade devices have reached record highs, underscoring a clear pivot toward lower-quality intake as device lifecycles stretch.
CPO demand strengthens domestically
Despite the aging supply base, consumer demand for pre-owned smartphones remains resilient. Circana data shows that as of October 2025, approximately 11% of US consumers own a pre-owned smartphone, with around 30% of those devices sold through Certified Pre-Owned programs. Trust in refurbished hardware appears to be strengthening. Nearly half of pre-owned buyers report that device condition was much better than expected. Confidence is extending beyond existing refurbished buyers. Among consumers who purchased their current smartphones new, 75% state they would consider a CPO device in the future. This attitudinal shift signals increasing mainstream acceptance of refurbished devices, supported by improved transparency, greater standardisation in grading practices, and wider use of genuine parts in repairs.
Brad Akyuz, Industry Analyst Consultant for Mobile at Circana, attributes the resilience of the US pre-owned smartphone market to a combination of affordability and quality improvements. He notes that enhanced refurbishment processes and clearer market standards have materially improved buyer expectations and perception of device condition.
Supply quality tightens CPO pipelines
However, extended ownership cycles are now constraining the type of devices eligible for US-based CPO programs. According to B-Stock, aging and lower-grade models typically fall outside the eligibility thresholds of carrier and OEM-backed CPO initiatives, which generally require newer-generation hardware in A or B grade condition.
Sean Cleland, Vice President of Mobile at B-Stock, explains that as carriers expand payment terms to 36 months, consumers are holding onto devices longer. Fewer trade-ins meet the technical and cosmetic standards required for premium refurbishment programs. As a result, although intake volumes may appear stable, the subset suitable for high-margin domestic CPO resale is tightening, creating upward pressure on quality supply.
International demand accelerates exports
At the same time, international market dynamics are reshaping the destination of US-sourced devices. B-Stock shipment data shows that a roughly 15% devaluation of the US dollar in 2025 significantly increased the attractiveness of American pre-owned smartphones to overseas buyers. International shipments of US-sourced devices nearly tripled year over year. Dubai and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 80% of global export volume, while the Netherlands and Spain emerged as fast-growing destinations. Demand across Southern Europe has been particularly robust, where older models such as the Apple iPhone 6, 7, and 8 remain in active circulation.
Cleland observes that international refurbishers operating in regions with lower labour and parts costs are competing aggressively for older supply. This competitive dynamic is placing additional pressure on domestic US refurbishers that lack similar cost structures or direct inventory access.
Circular economy implications
The convergence of rising consumer trust, aging trade-in inventory, and accelerating exports highlights a maturing but increasingly complex secondary smartphone market. On one hand, longer device lifespans support circular economy objectives by extending product use and reducing premature recycling. On the other, the growing share of lower-grade devices complicates domestic refurbishment pipelines and shifts value creation across borders.
For carriers, OEMs, and large-scale recommerce platforms, strategic alignment between trade-in incentives, grading transparency, and global resale channels will be critical. As CPO programs become central to retention strategies and sustainability commitments, access to high-quality supply may define competitive advantage in 2026 and beyond.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
