Not only smartphones: a boom in refurbished products in Europe
Buying refurbished products is increasingly perceived as a smart choice, combining convenience, sustainability and access to premium brands
by Marco Trabucchi
Refurbished is beautiful, at least for a new segment of consumers who prefer used technology objects that have been put back into working condition. The advantages are obviously economic, thanks to lower purchase prices, but also environmental: refurbished products extend the life cycle of products, reduce the amount of electronic waste and limit the extraction of precious raw materials. This is why buying refurbished products is increasingly perceived as a smart choice, combining convenience, sustainability and access to the most prestigious brands.
It is a silent revolution that is changing the face of consumption in Europe. The Second Chance Impact Report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, commissioned by Amazon, shows how what was once a niche market has become a consolidated reality worth €21.6 billion in 2024. Two out of three people buy second-hand products online, giving new life to 740 million objects including clothing, accessories, electronic devices and household appliances. On the Amazon platform alone, second-hand sales have exceeded €2 billion in Europe and the UK. In Italy, this cultural transformation has generated an added value of €1.4 billion and savings of €3.2 billion for consumers in 2024, with growth prospects that take the sector towards a value of €2.6 billion in 2025.
A trend, that of the new-born Italian love for refurbished smartphones, is also confirmed by recent research by Trovaprezzi.it, the online price comparator of the Mavriq group. In the smartphone market, refurbished smartphones have stopped being the alternative for 'limited budgets' and have become a conscious market choice. Searches for refurbished smartphones in Italy have almost doubled in eight months (+160%), giving new impetus to telephony after a phase of stagnation in e-commerce. The most interesting data emerges from specific preferences: iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 dominate the searches, all strictly top of the range. This confirms a reversed paradigm: no longer 'settling for' the refurbished, but choosing it to access the best of technology at more advantageous conditions.
But reconditioning doesn't stop at smartphones: it is expanding into new product categories, from household appliances to consoles, redesigning household consumption. household appliances recorded a 126.4% growth in searches, rising from 18,700 to over 42,400 queries, signalling how reconditioning is becoming part of everyday household management. No longer just an alternative to grab the latest iPhone, but an approach that redefines the purchase of washing machines, fridges and small appliances: containing spending without giving up brands known for their reliability and performance.
Information technology also confirms the trend, with 30.4% growth and over 51,600 searches, dominated by Apple's MacBook Air. Even more significant is the exploit of gaming consoles (+269% of searches), which intercepts a young audience, traditionally excluded from big tech purchases. Refurbished gaming opens the doors of PlayStation and Xbox to a generation that would otherwise have to wait years to afford them, demonstrating how refurbished is democratising access to desirable but expensive products, especially in the early stages of launch.
