Indian Used Smartphone Market to Hit $4.6B in 2025: ICEA-IDC Report

According to a joint report by ICEA and research firm IDC, the country’s used smartphone market will double in three years to $4.6 billion (roughly Rs. 34,500 crore) by 2025.

Consumers have sold 25 million smartphones in the secondary market, generating over $2.3 billion (roughly Rs. 17,250 crore) in revenue at an average price of $94 (roughly Rs. 7,050 crore) or Rs. According to the report, 6900 per device.

“India should become a global hub for re-manufacturing and re-trading using its labor cost delta. The deep growth of re-commerce will effectively reduce the digital divide, enabling the transition from conventional phones to smartphones.”

“The growth of this market will also lead to a significant reduction in e-waste as recycling becomes the new normal,” Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said during the presentation of the report.

Over 95 percent of all used smartphones are sold “as is” with the remaining five percent undergoing some form of repair or refurbishment in India.

“Among consumer electronics devices, smartphones are the largest volume driver (over 90 percent) in the used goods market at this time, and others such as laptops, smartwatches, game consoles and cameras are gradually gaining momentum,” the report says.

The report estimates that 78 percent of users who buy a used smartphone have a monthly income of less than Rs. 30,000 and 18 percent have a monthly income of Rs. 30,000-50,000 rupees. This makes affordable price range a key factor driving demand for used smartphones.