The refurbished market is outpacing new phone sales
Something significant is happening in the UK phone market. New smartphone sales have been flat or declining since 2022, but the refurbished and second-hand market has grown by over 15% year-on-year. In 2025 alone, more than 4 million refurbished smartphones were sold in the UK — a figure that's expected to grow further in 2026.
This shift has two important consequences for people looking to sell their phones. First, demand for buyback services is higher than ever, which is keeping resale prices strong. Second, the infrastructure for buying, refurbishing and reselling phones has matured significantly — which means faster processing, better prices, and more reliable services.
Cost of living is driving upgrade cycle changes
The cost of living crisis has fundamentally changed how UK consumers think about phones. Fewer people are buying new flagships outright or upgrading on contract every two years. Instead, they're holding devices longer, buying refurbished, and being more strategic about when they sell. This has created a more stable and predictable resale market than we saw in the boom-and-bust cycles of 2019–2022.
What this means if you're selling
The strong refurbished market means well-maintained phones in Excellent or Good condition are commanding a noticeable premium over Fair or Poor devices. If your phone is in good shape, the buyback market is paying for it. If it's not — if you have a cracked screen or a device that's struggled through three years of hard use — values have held relatively stable because even damaged phones have a route to market through parts and repair.
The bottom line: there has rarely been a better time to sell an old phone.