Why AI Data Centres Are Raising Refurbished Phone Prices
AI has absorbed the world’s memory supply. High-bandwidth memory earns chipmakers three to five times more revenue per wafer than conventional DRAM, so capacity moved. Gartner expects that to add 13% to smartphone prices and 17% to PC prices by the end of 2026 — and second-hand prices have started rising with them, breaking a decade-old rule.
Why Amazon Went Into Refurbished
Amazon has every incentive to sell you something factory-fresh, so why build a refurbished business at all? Roughly a fifth of online purchases come back and processing one costs close to a third of its value. Destruction was the cheap answer until a 2021 scandal — and since January 2022 it has been illegal in France, with an EU-wide restriction from July 2026.
Assurant’s 2026 CPO Report: Trust, Not Price, Now Decides the Refurbished Sale
Assurant surveyed 1,206 US smartphone owners. 80% call device reliability a major concern and 78% say the same of seller trustworthiness — both reach 98% once “somewhat important” is included. Warranty coverage was the fastest-rising purchase driver, up 10 points; financing was the most rejected. Battery health now outranks price. Read the findings →
Pixel 11 vs Galaxy S26: Which Is the Better Refurbished Buy?
Google’s Pixel 11 launched 12 August from $900; Samsung’s Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99 — the two ranges are now priced within a cent of each other at every tier. Both rose because of a severe global memory-chip shortage, and Google cut RAM on the base Pixel 11 Pro from 16GB to 12GB. The result: a refurbished Pixel 10 Pro carries more RAM than the new phone replacing it. Read full analysis →
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 18: Upgrade, Wait — or Buy Refurbished?
Leaks point to a Pro-only September 2026 launch with a 2nm A20 chip, Apple’s first foldable and another $100–200 price hike — while the base iPhone 18 slips to 2027. History says the real winners will be refurbished iPhone 16 and 17 buyers: previous-gen refurb prices typically fall 15–25% within three months of a launch. Read full analysis →
Amazon, Walmart and the OEMs Are Colonising Refurb — Who Actually Wins?
Amazon Renewed demands $50,000 in seller invoices every 90 days. Walmart Restored expanded to four quality tiers in July 2024. Apple shipped 15.9 million refurbished devices last year. Samsung runs a 147-point QC check in its own factories. The EU’s Right to Repair Directive becomes binding law across 27 member states by July 2026. We dig into the numbers, the strategy, and what it actually means for buyers. Read full analysis →
The $135 Billion Second Life: Global Refurb Phone Markets Are Booming Far Beyond the US
A market headed for $135.4 billion by 2033 is reshaping how the world thinks about smartphones — and the most compelling growth is happening far outside the US. From Indonesia to Singapore, Australia to the UAE, Europe’s Right to Repair revolution and Saudi Vision 2030, we track how the circular economy is winning in six distinct markets, for six distinct reasons. Read full analysis →
US Refurb Market Projected to Hit $65B by 2027
The US refurbished electronics market continues its strong growth trajectory, driven by inflation-conscious consumers, increased smartphone upgrade cycles, and a growing awareness of e-waste. Back Market reports US revenues up 34% year-on-year, while Amazon Renewed has expanded its certified category to cover over 1 million SKUs.
Sweetwater Gear Exchange Expands Certified Used Inventory
Sweetwater, already the gold standard for used audio equipment in the US, has expanded its Gear Exchange division to include a broader range of studio monitors, synthesizers and DJ equipment. The platform maintains its legendary customer service model, with Trustpilot scores consistently above 4.8★.
KEH Camera Celebrates 40 Years of Camera Resale
KEH Camera, widely regarded as the most trusted used camera marketplace in the US, celebrated its 40th anniversary with the launch of a new sustainability report. The company estimates it has kept over 4 million devices out of landfill and saved consumers more than $2 billion compared to new retail prices.
FTC Increases Scrutiny of "Certified Refurbished" Claims
The Federal Trade Commission has signalled increased scrutiny of vendors making "certified refurbished" claims without clear grading standards or third-party verification. Vendors without documented quality control processes may face enforcement action. This development is expected to benefit platforms like Swappa and Orchard that maintain transparent grading criteria.
OWC Launches Expanded Mac Trade-In Program
Other World Computing (OWC/macsales.com), a long-trusted name in Apple-compatible refurbished hardware, has launched an expanded trade-in and resale program for Mac computers. OWC continues to hold some of the strongest Trustpilot US scores in the laptop resale segment, with a 4.7★ average across thousands of verified purchases.
Enterprise ITAD Sector Grows as Companies Prioritise ESG Goals
The enterprise IT asset disposition (ITAD) sector — covered in RefurbVerify's Tier 7 — is seeing rapid growth as Fortune 500 companies prioritise ESG reporting and sustainable IT lifecycle management. Ingram Micro Lifecycle, Sims Lifecycle Services and ERI are among the leaders benefiting from corporate sustainability mandates.
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