As mobile device replacement cycles continue to lengthen, and costs continue to rise, consumers are finding new ways to get more value from the smartphones and connected devices they already own, and as US consumers are increasingly looking for more ways to offset upgrade costs, they are holding onto smartphones longer than ever, according to data released by Assurant.
Moreover, the company’s latest quarterly Mobile trade-in and upgrade industry trends report found that just weeks before the launch of the latest generation of Apple’s core communications platform, the average age of iPhones turned in through trade-in and upgrade programmes surpassed four years for the first time, with trade-in value expanding beyond smartphones.
At the beginning of 2026, Assurant said there was a general shift in the comms market whereby rising demand for refurbished smartphones was strengthening trade-in values and device condition is playing a larger role in determining value. It added that the findings for Q2 point to a shift in upgrade behaviour as consumers look for more ways to manage device costs while extending the value of the technology they already own. In addition, wearables are continuing to provide meaningful trade-in value.
Among the key findings for Q2 2026 were that mobile trade-in programmes returned $1.43bn US consumers in the second quarter of 2026. This compared with $1.34bn in Q2 2025, a 7% year-on-year increase. However, US consumers received $1.63bn from mobile trade-in programmes in the first quarter of 2026, up 31% compared with the same period in 2025.
The Q2 year-on-year growth was said to reflect ongoing consumer participation in smartphone trade-in programmes and the sustained value of recent-generation devices in the secondary market.
The iPhone 13 was the top turned-in device, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra was the top turned-in Android device. Premium smart watches were also seeing more value at trade-in, with the Apple Ultra 3 delivering an average of $341 in trade-in value for Q2 2026.
Interestingly, the average age of iPhones turned in through trade-in and upgrades was 4.03 years, surpassing the four-year mark for the first time. Android device age held steady at 3.76 years, while the average across all smartphones reached 3.96 years.
The average age of all traded-in devices for Q1 2026 was 3.81 years, compared with 3.83 years for the full year of 2025.
“Consumers are getting more life out of their smartphones than ever before, but trade-in timing matters,” said Biju Nair, executive vice-president and president of global connected living at Assurant.
“As component costs continue to put pressure on new device prices, trade-in programmes play an increasingly important role in helping consumers offset upgrade costs … AI-driven insights help route those devices to the channels where they are needed most, strengthening the secondary market and expanding access to affordable technology.”
Emily Herbert, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said: “Strong demand for high-quality refurbished smartphones continues to support healthy trade-in values and a robust secondary market.
“Trade-ins have become an increasingly important part of the smartphone ecosystem, making newer devices more affordable for consumers while supplying the inventory needed to support the refurbished market. That benefits consumers, manufacturers and the environment.”
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