Niq: Refurbished smartphones on the upswing in Germany
Niq (formerly GfK) has published figures on the German smartphone market: The refurbished market is growing, while more is being spent on new devices.
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According to Niq consumer surveys (formerly GfK), the market share of refurbished devices in Germany is at least ten percent. According to the market researchers, this currently corresponds to around 1.8 million refurbished smartphones sold in the past twelve months. Refurbished products serve the zeitgeist, says Niq.
“Refurbished products serve the zeitgeist”
According to the Niq figures available to heise online, the market for refurbished smartphones has grown: in the second quarter of 2025, 33% more refurbished devices were sold compared to the first quarter. However, the segment is quite new for Niq: the market researchers have been recording sales of refurbished smartphones for the first time since August 2025. Data for this comes from the years 2024 and 2025.
Alexander Dehmel, Niq expert for technical consumer goods, says: “Refurbished products serve the zeitgeist: devices are being used for longer, which is good for the environment, and at the same time costs are falling for consumers thanks to cheaper devices.” According to the market researchers, refurbished products are a real alternative for many buyers, as retailers offer a guarantee, new batteries in some cases, and tested technology, and “they then have a corresponding level of security.” In addition, the topic hits the “nerve of sustainability, price awareness, and consumer ethics.”
Premium also on the rise
According to the figures, customers pay significantly less for a refurbished smartphone than for a new device. In the first half of the year, consumers spent an average of 423 euros on a refurbished device, compared to an average of 727 euros for a new device. For smartphones, this represents a further price jump since 2023: at the beginning of 2024, Niq wrote that the average price paid for a new smartphone in Germany was €701. This means that the price of a new device rose by three percent compared to the previous year.
(Image:Â NIQ)
In general, the market for smartphones in Germany has developed negatively in terms of both value and volume, explains Niq expert Sebastian Woldmann. Due to the price increase of three percent, the decline in value (- 2.9 percent) was not quite as strong as in quantity (- 5.8 percent). Meanwhile, premium smartphones, i.e., those models costing 1,200 euros or more, achieved positive growth of five percent in Germany. Woldmann cites the fact that consumers are using their smartphones for longer and that the market is saturated and not very innovative as reasons for the weakening market.
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Refurbished strong in France
It is not only in Germany that refurbished and premium products appear to be coming more into focus and consumers are keeping their smartphones for longer. According to Niq, consumers tend to opt for higher-quality models when buying new, while “entry-level users are increasingly opting for refurbished devices.”
Niq cites the French market as an example: there, refurbished devices “now account for 41% of the sub-600 euro segment.” This price range roughly corresponds to the mid-range. However, you can now also get a premium smartphone from the previous year for around 600 euros.
Irrespective of the Niq figures, the refurbished market in the EU is likely to continue to grow. This is because the Ecodesign Regulation, which came into force in June 2025, has given smartphones a guaranteed lifespan, among other things: manufacturers must provide devices with software updates for five years (after the end of sales), which means they can be used safely for longer. They are also obliged to offer spare parts for a longer period.
(afl)
