iPhones accounted for nearly half of all refurbished smartphone sales worldwide. Apple’s sales in the category also grew 16% year-on-year in 2022, according to the latest data from Counterpoint Research.

According to the report, the global secondary smartphone market grew 5% YoY in 2022, with Apple managing to secure over 49% of the secondary handset market. Counterpoint’s data illustrates that India and Latin America were the fastest-growing markets for refurbished smartphones. The former saw 19% YoY growth, and the latter saw 18% YoY growth in the category.

China’s refurbished smartphone sales notably did not contribute to the growth seeing a 17% YoY decline in 2022 due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases and the implementation of “COVID-Zero” policies in the region.

The report attributes Apple’s success in the refurbished market to its long-standing program of selling refurbished iPhone models through its official channels, sustainability-focused initiatives, and long-standing software support for older iPhone models. Growing demand for 5G smartphones was an additional factor, with 5G making up 13% of global refurbished smartphone sales in 2022.

As the price of flagship smartphones worldwide continues to climb, refurbished models remain a viable and affordable alternative for consumers. The inventory of low-grade used smartphones is expected to increase in 2023 due to “end-of-life activities like disassembly, logistics, warehousing, recycling, and e-waste disposal,” also according to the report.