NEW DELHI: Apple’s latest iPhone launch could trigger a fresh wave of trade-ins, while strengthening demand for older, refurbished models, as sharply higher flagship prices push buyers towards more affordable ways of entering the company’s ecosystem, according to Cashify.The refurbished-device platform expects buybacks to increase within 30 days of the launch and gather pace over the following 60-90 days as supplies improve, festive offers expand and more customers upgrade.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series are expected to record the strongest increase in buybacks. The iPhone 13 and 14 could continue contributing substantial volumes because of their larger installed base.Apple accounted for 65.3% of refurbished smartphone sales on its platform in 2025 and 32.6% of all devices bought back. The iPhone 13 was both its bestselling refurbished iPhone and most frequently traded-in model. The iPhone 13 represented 6.93% of Cashify’s smartphone buybacks but accounted for 15.5% of refurbished demand, indicating that demand exceeded the volume volume entering its resale system.Meanwhile, refurbished-phone retailers expect demand for older iPhones to strengthen following the latest price increases, particularly among customers who want an Apple device but are unwilling to spend close to Rs 1 lakh on a new base model. Retailers also expect warranties, battery health and device certification to become more important as first-time buyers move towards the secondary market.Higher supplies would ordinarily reduce prices of outgoing models. However, Cashify expects the elevated prices of new iPhones to simultaneously lift demand for previous generations, potentially limiting the correction. Prices could therefore soften gradually instead of declining sharply.Demand is expected to shift progressively towards the iPhone 14 and 15 as availability improves, while the iPhone 16 may initially remain in the premium refurbished category because of its higher residual value.