September 25, 2025

Lights, camera, action for iPhones in India's buzzing refurbished smartphone scene! The premium phone craze is catching fire, and guess who's stealing the show? Yes, the iconic Apple iPhones! Mandeep Manocha, Cashify's Co-founder and CEO, shared with The Hindu that over 60% of refurbished phone buyers are opting for these slick devices in 2025. The market is no longer just about budget phones; it’s shifting towards mid-range and premium options. Why this trend? Manocha explains, "Majority of the Indian population is aspirational, but the per capita income is not that high and that is why refurbished phones in the premium category are finding a lot of demand." It’s a classic tale of dreams seeking smart deals! Apple leads big with a whopping 63% demand in the refurbished segment from January to June 2025. Other popular players include OnePlus (10.2%), Xiaomi (9.7%), Samsung (6.1%), Vivo (3.2%), Oppo (2.4%), and Realme (1.9%). The star of the show? The iPhone 12, which consistently tops the sales charts on Cashify. Samsung's Galaxy S series also shines bright. Cashify’s numbers sparkle too — three out of five refurbished buyers in the first half of 2025 picked iPhones. Hot sellers like iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Pro are pushing the ₹60,000+ category, which surged 33% year-over-year. This premium segment is growing fast, while cheap phones lag behind. With over 205 Cashify stores scattered across India and a solid online presence, buying and selling refurbished phones has never been easier. Their Noida factory is a repair haven where every phone goes through a tough 32-step check, supported by a warranty of 6 to 12 months. Plus, these stores double up as service centers with expert repair engineers. Cashify also offers an easy trade-in process. Just visit their website, check your phone's price, and get it picked up from your doorstep. They partner directly with Apple and Samsung for trade-ins. The trade hotspots? Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai lead the charge. Yet, a big piece of the pie remains unorganized. "Refurbished market has been an unorganised market with 77% sale happening through unorganised channels which it aims to streamline," says Manocha. Looking ahead, Cashify is ready to rock the refurbished laptop market, eyeing demand from businesses and schools. Manocha reminds companies about repairability, stressing, "On repairability aspect, he said that companies have to take it seriously." More power to smart buyers and savvy sellers as India's love for premium, pocket-friendly phones grows by the day!

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Iphone, Refurbished market, Premiumisation, Cashify, Smartphones, India,