India's Refurbished Smartphone Market Grows 13% Amid Rising New Phone Prices
India's refurbished smartphone market grew 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while new smartphone sales declined by about 11%, driven by rising prices in entry and mid-range segments. Samsung leads the refurbished market with a 30% share, followed by Apple at 23%, with the iPhone 13 notably popular. Analysts attribute growth to higher new phone costs, increased memory prices, and the availability of trade-in programs and financing options, making premium refurbished devices more accessible to price-sensitive consumers.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (55/100). Lens Score 33/100.
Outlets measured: freepressjournal, thefinancialexpress. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (55–55/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
thefinancialexpress broke this story on 1 Sept, 05:34 pm. Other outlets followed.