Gentilly, September 9, 2025 – As Apple prepares to unveil its iPhone 17 on September 9 during its annual Keynote, Recommerce Group, the European pioneer in trade-in, refurbishment and resale, assesses the impact of this announcement on the refurbishment  market.

For Recommerce Group, this announcement will boost the refurbishment market.

For 16 years, we have observed that every new iPhone launch sets off the following developments  in the weeks after the launch: 

• a price drop of 10 to 15% on average on previous refurbished models, 

• a trade-in surge of over 50% for older models compared to previous months, 

• a strong demand for recent refurbished models (n-1, n-2, n-3), now more affordable as refurbished items.

An expected launch price of nearly €1000 for iPhone 17 vs. under €400 for a refurbished iPhone 14

With the iPhone 16 launching at €969 last year and persistent inflation, the iPhone 17 is expected to start at nearly €1000 and could reach over €1900 for the higher models and capacity. 

Refurbished products stand out as a sustainable alternative. Choosing a refurbished smartphone helps avoid the extraction of 154kg of raw materials compared to manufacturing a new device.

Trade-in: a purchasing power level worth up to €800

The launch of a new model is the best time to sell an old smartphone. Trade-in can help finance part of a new purchase, new or refurbished, which directly  boosts the  consumer's purchasing power. 

“Consumer trends show a strong preference for in-store trade-ins. This choice is driven by tangible and reassuring benefits: the diagnosis is immediate, the trade-in price is guaranteed, personal data is securely wiped, and there is no risk of loss or theft associated with shipping. To meet this demand for trust, we offer in-store trade-in solutions through our major operator and retailer partners across Europe,” says Augustin Becquet, CEO of Recommerce. 

A strong Back-to-School trend

The back-to-school season often coincides with a child's first smartphone, a major purchasing decision for a lot of families. As a European leader, Recommerce observes a strong trend towards refurbished products for this specific need. It allows parents to control their budget while still providing a high-quality device from a premium brand. It's the perfect balance between performance and peace of mind, making it the ideal pragmatic choice for a first phone. Regardless of your choice, always remember to install parental controls and choose a model that suits your child’s needs.

Vigilance against market pitfalls

While refurbishment attracts more and more consumers, the sector continues to face adversity : VAT fraud, non-payment of eco-contributions and private copying levies, sale of products that do not comply with technical standards, etc., all of which undermine consumer confidence. These practices not only deceive consumers, but also undermine an entire virtuous industry.

How to protect yourself? 

• A serious player: Look for a refurbisher with a headquarters and teams localized in Europe. 

• Positive and certified external ratings: 

  • Look for a label and/or certification recognized by an independent third party (such as the RECQ “Reconditionnement de Qualité” label issued by Rcube and verified by DEKRA, or ISO 9001 certification).

  • Check customer reviews on certified platforms  and select sellers with a score above 4/5. 

• Transparent sales conditions : Demand a full invoice (including VAT, taxes, etc.) and a solid warranty (Recommerce products come with a 24-month warranty, same as new).

• Tested and compliant products: The seller must be clear about its testing process (Recommerce checks 56 points on each device), and use CE-marked parts.  

  
  

About Recommerce Group: 

RECOMMERCE GROUP is the European pioneer in the refurbishment of high-tech products, particularly smartphones. Founded in 2009, Recommerce buys used equipment, offers software and application trade-in solutions to retailers, individuals and companies, and refurbishes and resells reconditioned equipment, including smartphones and games consoles. The company distributes its refurbished products under the “Recommerce©” brand name, and sells them on www.recommerce.com as well as in many European countries via distributors and telecom operators. As part of its commitment to the circular and responsible economy, the company promotes the recovery and reuse of equipment through the application of artificial intelligence technologies applied to the industrial sector. Founded by Pierre-Etienne Roinat, Benoit Varin, Cédric Maucourt and Antoine Jeanjean, Recommerce has become one of Europe’s leaders in the refurbishment and resale of high-tech products. Recommerce is part of the Next 40 promotion 2020 and the French Tech 120 promotion 2021 and 2022, is certified ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 27001 by DNV and is labelled RecQ - ReConditionnement de Qualité, the first European label certifying the quality of the end product by DEKRA Certification, as well as rated Gold by Ecovadis for its CSR policy.

Contact: pr@recommerce.com