iPhone's Dominance in the Used Smartphone Market: 56% Market Share, Crushing Android Competitors

iPhone's Dominance in the Used Smartphone Market: 56% Market Share, Crushing Android CompetitorsThe strong sales of iPhones are inextricably linked to their excellent resale value. In the used smartphone market, iPhones significantly outperform all other brands in retaining value, making them the dominant force

iPhone's Dominance in the Used Smartphone Market: 56% Market Share, Crushing Android Competitors

The strong sales of iPhones are inextricably linked to their excellent resale value. In the used smartphone market, iPhones significantly outperform all other brands in retaining value, making them the dominant force. Counterpoint Research's 2024 refurbished phone market report (which can be considered a used phone market report) corroborates this trend. The report shows a 5% global growth in the used phone market in 2024, with Apple's exceptional performance almost single-handedly driving this growth.

The report's data is striking: Apple commands a staggering 56% share of the global used smartphone market. This means that more than one out of every two used phones sold is an iPhone. This overwhelming advantage can be described as a monopoly. Samsung, in second place, holds only a 24% market share, down 3 percentage points from 2023. Together, Apple and Samsung account for 80% of the global used smartphone market, leaving only 20% for all other brands.

Specifically, Chinese brands like OPPO, vivo, and Xiaomi each hold a mere 3% of the global used smartphone market; Huawei and Motorola each hold 2%; and OnePlus holds 1%. Other brands collectively account for the remaining 6%. This data clearly highlights the massive gap between Chinese brands and Apple and Samsung. Globally, the performance of used Chinese smartphones is underwhelming; their share would likely be even lower without the support of the domestic market.

It's important to note that this data is based on global statistics. While Apple likely maintains a leading position in the Chinese domestic market, Chinese brands would undoubtedly have a higher share, and Samsung's ranking might not be second. However, due to a lack of authoritative data on the Chinese used smartphone market, a more in-depth analysis of the performance of each brand in the domestic market is impossible.

Apple's dominance in the used smartphone market is closely related to the quality of its products, user reputation, and brand influence. iPhones have always been known for their superior performance, smooth operating system, and comprehensive ecosystem, resulting in high user loyalty. Many users, even when upgrading to a new phone, prefer to resell their old iPhones rather than opt for other brands. Furthermore, Apple's repair services and after-sales support are relatively comprehensive, further enhancing the resale value of iPhones.

In stark contrast, Android brands generally exhibit weaker resale value. While some Android flagship models match iPhones in performance and specifications, they still lag behind Apple in software systems, ecosystems, and brand influence. This leads to lower liquidity for Android phones in the used market, faster depreciation, and ultimately impacts their market share.

Counterpoint Research's report is more than just a simple statistic on used smartphone market share; it also reflects the current competitive landscape of the mobile phone industry. Apple firmly holds the leading position in the high-end market, with its brand value and product competitiveness far surpassing other brands. Android manufacturers need to invest more effort in product innovation, software optimization, and brand building to secure a foothold in the fiercely competitive market and improve their share of the used smartphone market.

From a consumer perspective, the high resale value of iPhones translates to lower upgrade costs. Users can obtain higher resale prices when selling their old iPhones, thus reducing the financial burden of upgrading to a new model. This is undoubtedly a significant factor attracting consumers to choose iPhones.

However, high resale value is not without its downsides. On the one hand, it can lead to inflated prices in the used market, potentially deterring some consumers due to the high cost. On the other hand, high resale value may encourage some users to hoard old phones instead of selling them, which is detrimental to the healthy development of the used smartphone market.

In conclusion, Apple holds an absolute advantage in the global used smartphone market, with its 56% market share reflecting the strong brand influence and product competitiveness of the iPhone. This not only showcases Apple's own strength but also highlights the need for improvement in resale value and used market competitiveness among Android manufacturers. The future development of the used smartphone market and how various brands will address the challenges will be key areas of industry focus. Apple's success story undoubtedly provides valuable lessons for other manufacturers to learn from, while balancing high resale value with the healthy development of the market remains a crucial consideration for all manufacturers. Counterpoint Research's report offers valuable insights, helping us understand the current state and future trends of the global used smartphone market. Ultimately, consumers will benefit from more intense market competition, receiving better products and more reasonable prices.