iPhones are emerging as the top choice in India’s refurbished smartphone market, accounting for more than 60 percent of demand as buyers increasingly lean towards premium devices. The shift highlights how aspirational consumers are embracing refurbished options to access high-end technology at lower prices, according to Mandeep Manocha, Co-founder and CEO of Cashify.
“The 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,” said Mr Manocha.
From January to June 2025, iPhones contributed 63 percent of refurbished smartphone sales, followed by OnePlus at 10.2 percent, Xiaomi at 9.7 percent, Samsung at 6.1 percent, Vivo at 3.2 percent, Oppo at 2.4 percent and Realme at 1.9 percent. The Apple iPhone 12 has consistently remained the top-selling model, while the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro continue to drive the premium ₹60,000 and above refurbished segment, which recorded a 33 percent year-on-year growth. Samsung’s Galaxy S series also features among the top performers.
Cashify revealed that three out of five refurbished buyers in the first half of 2025 opted for iPhones. The company operates over 205 stores across India along with its online presence, with demand equally distributed across both channels. It has been witnessing strong growth in the premium segment, while uptake in the low-value category remains limited. On a yearly basis, the company expects 40 percent growth, while quarter-on-quarter it registered around 35 percent growth compared to last year.
Cashify runs a one lakh square feet facility in Noida where every phone undergoes a 32-step testing and refurbishing process. Customers are offered a six-month or twelve-month warranty. Its stores also serve as service centres, staffed with repair engineers. The company sources devices directly from users who can check the price on its website and schedule doorstep pick-up. Cashify also partners with Apple and Samsung for trade-in programmes, with Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai leading in trade-in activity.
“The refurbished market has been an unorganised market with 77 percent sales happening through unorganised channels which we aim to streamline,” said Mr Manocha. He added that Cashify is now focusing on refurbished laptops as the next stage of growth, targeting both enterprise and education sectors, while also emphasising the importance of repairability in technology.
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