DIGITAL LIFE

IDC: used smartphone market is the order of the day

The second-hand market is increasingly gaining prominence in the smartphone universe, and the latest data from IDC, relating to the first three months of this year, shows this.

As the price of new devices increases and the uncertainty of US customs tariffs anticipates even greater increases, more and more users are opting for second-hand equipment.

Data released by the consultancy firm shows that the growth rate of equipment sent to stores since the beginning of last year has been decreasing for both new and used equipment, but new equipment has fallen more. At the end of March, this growth rate was residual for new equipment and grew 4% in the used market.

The same data shows a more significant increase in the average purchase price of new devices, compared to used devices: US$ 474 vs. US$ 264. Three years ago, in the first quarter of 2022, the ratio was this: US$ 390 vs. US$ 228.

“With the increase in the prices of new smartphones, the demand for used devices has increased, also raising their average selling prices. This trend highlights how trade policy can have an impact on secondary markets, changing price dynamics and consumer preferences”, highlights Diogo Santos, an analyst at IDC.

IDC believes that the increase in the price of new devices will continue to influence consumer purchasing decisions, changing behaviors and increasing the demand for devices in lower price ranges, but also for second-hand models, due to the significant savings they represent.

The consultancy had already revised downwards its sales forecasts for the smartphone market this year. It first anticipated growth of 2.3%, then adjusted its estimate to 0.6% and a total of 1.24 billion units sold.

And it wasn't the only one. Counterpoint also started out predicting that equipment sales would grow by 4.2% in 2025. The revised estimate, communicated earlier this month, now points to growth of 1.9%.

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