The Shift Toward Refurbished Smartphones in a Tight Economy
Starting this autumn, older iPhone models are set to stay functional for significantly longer periods. At the same time, newly launched Apple hardware is expected to become more expensive. While opting for a used device or choosing to keep your current phone for another year or two means you might miss out on a few cutting-edge hardware features, for most consumers, it is simply the most logical choice.
“Buying used has never made more sense,” states Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair advocate service iFixit. He emphasizes that the smartphones released over the past few years are still remarkably capable devices.
The Factors Behind Imminent Apple Price Increases
With global inflation and supply chain issues impacting the tech sector, even a giant like Apple is navigating financial hurdles. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that price increases for the tech giant's devices would soon become “unavoidable.” Cook did not clarify which products would see these price hikes or exactly when they would go into effect.
The underlying cause is a severe and persistent global memory shortage, specifically affecting storage and memory components essential for building advanced consumer electronics. This shortage is fueled by the massive growth of AI data centers worldwide, which are snapping up these components and leaving consumer hardware manufacturers in a tight spot. Compounded by earlier market instability following the Trump administration's tariffs and geopolitical tensions with Iran, the cost of manufacturing new iPhones is climbing, and brands will inevitably pass those costs down to their customer base.
iOS 27 and Sustained Performance for Older Handsets
Apple has already taken steps to accommodate users who hold onto their devices longer. During Apple’s WWDC keynote, the company introduced features coming to its iOS 27 operating system. The update focuses on enhancing the device's CPU scheduler—the resource management tool within the operating system—enabling even older hardware like the iPhone 11 to run efficiently. This software optimization offers buyers more confidence that older models will not be rendered obsolete by upcoming software rollouts.
The Cost Advantage of Battery Replacements
Keeping an older iPhone running is often far more economical than repairing a brand-new model. Battery replacements represent a clear area where consumers can save. While Apple charges $119 to swap out the battery on a premium iPhone 17, replacing the battery on an older model like the iPhone 13 is $30 cheaper.
According to Wiens, individuals can save a significant amount of money by purchasing a device that is roughly a year old and simply refreshing its battery when needed to maintain optimum performance.
Market Trends and the Refurbished Sector
According to Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC, Apple has historically managed to absorb many of these rising costs to maintain customer goodwill. He pointed to the March release of the MacBook Neo, Apple's cheapest laptop to date at $599, as an example. In an email to TrendKia, Ubrani noted that he does not expect Apple to damage its brand reputation with blanket price hikes across all product categories. Instead, any increases will likely be concentrated on high-end hardware, such as the Pro smartphone models, upcoming MacBooks, or a future folding phone.
Consumers who do not mind missing out on the absolute latest camera improvements or localized AI processing features will find that the used market represents the best value for their money.
While the average consumer replaces their smartphone every 2.5 years, keeping devices for longer is increasingly popular. Thibaud Hug de Larauze, CEO of refurbished tech marketplace Back Market, noted a massive sales spike in 2025 due to consumer anxiety around potential tariff-induced price spikes. Following Cook's latest comments, they have seen another wave of interest from buyers who want to avoid paying up to $2,000 for a new flagship phone.
Though market analyst firm Counterpoint reports that the refurbished smartphone market is growing slightly slower than anticipated in 2025, and that wholesale price hikes eventually trickle down to used devices in about three to six months, buying used remains a highly practical financial strategy.
