The global secondary smartphone market closed 2025 with an unprecedented surge in activity, according to the Q4 2025 B-Stock Mobile Insider report. December emerged as the highest-volume month of the year, with units sold increasing 29% compared with November. This acceleration materially exceeded the 15% month on month growth recorded in December 2024, underscoring a structural shift in how primary market participants are utilising secondary channels.
The volume spike was driven by carriers, retailers, and OEMs accelerating inventory flows into recommerce platforms ahead of year-end. This strategy enabled revenue recognition while reducing balance sheet exposure to depreciating assets. For the secondary market, the influx reinforced its role as an operational extension of the primary smartphone economy rather than a residual disposal channel.
Post launch trade-in dynamics
The release cycle of the Apple iPhone 17 acted as a catalyst for these movements. Trade-in activity began appearing on secondary platforms in November, closely mirroring the timing observed during the Apple iPhone 16 cycle a year earlier. The predictability of this cadence continues to support planning across refurbishment, grading, and resale operations. Despite the influx of newer generation devices, pricing behaviour followed established depreciation patterns. Average selling prices for Apple iPhone devices declined 10% in November and a further 2% in December. This consistency limited volatility risks for professional buyers and reinforced confidence in forward inventory positioning.
Pro Max models anchor liquidity
High-end Apple iPhone models again dictated both volume and pricing stability. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max replaced older generations as primary volume drivers, reflecting the rapid migration of premium devices into secondary circulation. Notably, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max remained the single most sold device on the platform for the fifth consecutive quarter. This sustained performance highlights the importance of premium SKUs in anchoring liquidity across secondary marketplaces. For recommerce operators, these models offer predictable grading outcomes, strong cross-border demand, and efficient capital turnover, all of which are critical as market volumes scale.
Samsung pricing and longevity
Samsung’s secondary market performance demonstrated similar signs of maturity. The Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G retained its position as the most popular Samsung device for the third consecutive quarter, reinforcing the longevity of the Ultra series within recommerce channels. Pricing for Grade A units peaked in October at approximately €386 before declining in November and partially recovering in December. This short-term volatility was absorbed quickly by market demand, suggesting improved pricing resilience even during periods of elevated supply. Such behaviour supports more stable procurement strategies for professional buyers operating at scale.
Foldables gain secondary relevance
Foldable devices continued their transition from niche products to established secondary assets. For the second consecutive quarter, the Galaxy Z Fold5 5G ranked among the top three Samsung models by volume. This trend indicates growing buyer confidence in foldable durability, repairability, and resale value. For the circular economy, the acceptance of foldables expands the addressable refurbished market and supports longer device lifecycles across a broader range of form factors.
Strategic implications for recommerce
Collectively, the Q4 2025 data points to a structurally stronger secondary smartphone market. High-volume trade-in flows, predictable depreciation curves, and expanding device categories are improving yield management and lifecycle extension outcomes. As 2026 begins, the secondary mobile sector is increasingly positioned as an integrated pillar of the global smartphone economy, supporting both financial efficiency and sustainability objectives.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
