Battery performance reshapes secondary smartphone value

Battery life as market driver

Battery longevity has moved from a consumer preference to a measurable economic variable for recommerce operators. According to a CNET and YouGov survey conducted in September 2025, longer battery life ranked as the primary reason for purchasing a new phone, second only to price. In secondary markets, this preference translates directly into costs and resale velocity. Devices capable of sustaining full day usage on a single charge retain stronger demand curves, particularly in enterprise trade in and subscription-based refurbishment channels.

Testing methodology and relevance

CNET standardised its evaluation using a combined stress test and video streaming benchmark, both starting at 100% battery capacity. While individual usage patterns vary, this methodology provides a consistent comparative framework relevant to secondary market stakeholders assessing real world endurance. Importantly, the results show that battery efficiency is no longer solely correlated with battery size, shifting attention toward chipset optimisation and software integration.

Apple and OnePlus performance

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max ranked as the top performing device for battery life, despite not having the largest battery capacity in the test group. Its performance highlights the efficiency gains achieved through Apple’s vertically integrated approach combining silicon design and operating system optimisation. OnePlus matched this efficiency from a different angle, placing three models in the overall top rankings. All OnePlus devices in the top tier used silicon carbon batteries, allowing significantly higher capacity without increasing physical battery volume.

Silicon carbon implications

Nearly half of the top ranked devices used silicon carbon battery technology, marking a pivotal moment for battery design. This chemistry increases energy density while maintaining form factor constraints, which is particularly relevant for refurbishment and repair operations. Higher capacity batteries with slower degradation profiles reduce replacement frequency, improve long term health metrics and support extended second and third ownership cycles.

Marginal year on year gains

Despite technological progress, CNET’s comparison between 2024 and 2025 devices shows average battery life improved by just 0.78%. This marginal gain reinforces the secondary market argument for purchasing slightly older models at lower price points. For refurbishers, this supports inventory strategies that prioritise proven models with strong battery efficiency rather than focusing exclusively on the latest generation.

Strategic impact for circularity

From a circular economy perspective, battery replacement emerges as a critical intervention. CNET explicitly advises consumers to replace batteries rather than devices when performance declines. For the secondary ecosystem, this aligns with right to repair momentum, cost efficient refurbishment and emissions reduction. Battery replacement can extend a smartphone’s usable life by several years, significantly improving material recovery rates and reducing electronic waste.

Brand positioning in resale markets

Apple and OnePlus now occupy a strategic advantage in secondary channels where battery health scoring increasingly influences pricing algorithms. Motorola and Samsung followed closely, while Google’s vertically integrated hardware software model delivered respectable but clearly lower battery outcomes. These performance differentials are likely to influence future trade in valuations and refurbishment prioritisation across global resale markets.

Via: CNET