As we move through 2025, the mobile device trade-in and upgrade landscape continues to grow, becoming increasingly fundamental to the secondary market. Our latest quarterly report highlights key data points and trends that are shaping the industry. Let's dive into the details.
Money in Consumers’ Hands
The total amount of money returned to consumers through trade-in programs this past quarter reached an impressive $1.24 billion. This marks a significant increase of approximately 40% compared to Q1 2024. We saw an upsurge in promotions — which drove trade-in volumes — and the devices being traded in to receive the promotions were relatively newer models, garnering higher trade-in values.
Top Traded Devices
For the third consecutive quarter, the iPhone 13 has maintained its position as the top turned-in device from trade-in and upgrade programs. Of the top five devices, 85% are 5G-enabled, with the iPhone 11 as the lone 4G device in the mix. On the Android side, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G remains the leading device, holding its top spot for the third quarter in a row.
Average Age of Devices at Trade-In
One of the most notable trends this quarter is the average age of devices received from trade-in and upgrade programs. The average age of an iPhone at turn-in has reached 3.79 years, while Android devices are slightly older at 3.93 years. These figures represent the highest average ages we’ve seen to date. Despite seeing 3-year-old models in the top five list, the lack of promotions targeting older devices suggests that consumers aren’t swayed to upgrade without those promotions. This could be because these devices continue to meet their needs or because upgrading is financially challenging at this time. The question now is: Will we hit the four-year mark soon?
Conclusion
The mobile device trade-in and upgrade market continues to thrive with consumers benefiting from promotions, ongoing trade-in offers, and the opportunity to upgrade to newer, more advanced devices. As we look ahead, though, the trends suggest that the average age of devices at trade-in may continue to rise without strong incentives to upgrade. Stay tuned for more insights and updates in our next quarterly report.
