Swappa, a major refurbished smartphone marketplace in the US, has revealed that Apple iPhones continue to dominate secondhand device sales. The platform’s top-selling devices in May were the Apple iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 12. In fact, nine of the ten most-sold smartphones were Apple iPhones, with only the Samsung Galaxy S22 breaking the streak. In Europe, the situation is more nuanced. refurbed, a leading European refurbished marketplace, shared recent trends showing that customer preferences vary by country. While the Apple iPhone 13 is most popular in Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands, it’s a different story in Denmark and Sweden, where the slightly older Apple iPhone 12 is preferred.
Apple iPhone 11 continues to shine
Swappa data reveles further that the Apple iPhone 11, released in 2019, remains popular and currently ranks sixth. Over the course of 2024 so far, it was even the third most purchased model on Swappa. The variety of Apple iPhone models in demand, ranging from iPhone 11 to iPhone 15, shows the continued strength of Apple’s brand in the US refurbished market.
AirPods rival iPhone sales in Netherlands
Interestingly, in the Netherlands, refurbed data shows the demand for AirPods appears to rival that of the Apple iPhone 12. This suggests that accessories are becoming increasingly important in the secondary electronics market.
Longevity drives refurbished Apple demand on both sides of the ocean
The ongoing success of older Apple iPhones highlights a key advantage of refurbished tech: longevity. Models from 2019 to 2023 remain in high demand, supporting the idea that consumers are willing to buy slightly older devices when the price and performance are right.
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