[비즈한국] As the used phone market grows, smartphone manufacturers like Samsung Electronics005930 and Apple are expanding their used device collection and resale businesses. While manufacturers cite environmental protection and resource circulation as their justification, analysts suggest there is also a strategic intent to compensate for slowing new product sales and lock consumers into their own distribution networks. From a consumer perspective, it is necessary to consider the reliability of official channels alongside criteria for compensation valuation and the distribution of contractual responsibilities.
The used phone market has already grown to a scale of millions of units. According to the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), the domestic used phone market is estimated to have an annual transaction volume of 10 million units and a transaction value of 3 trillion won as of 2025. As of 2023, the purchase volume by used phone businesses was approximately 5.89 million units, while individual transactions accounted for about 2.55 million units. As the market—previously dominated by peer-to-peer (P2P) trades or third-party used phone buyers—has expanded, manufacturers are now building their own collection and resale systems.
Samsung Electronics began its used phone business in earnest last year. In January of last year, it launched 'Galaxy Easy Trade-In' in partnership with global used phone compensation firm Likewize, and in March, it began selling 'Galaxy Certified Re-Newed' phones domestically. Galaxy Easy Trade-In is a service that allows consumers to sell their used Galaxy devices on Samsung.com without needing to purchase a new product. Galaxy Certified Re-Newed is a business that sells flagship products—returned within 7 days due to reasons like change of mind—after they have undergone internal quality inspections.
Apple has operated under a similar structure. Its 'Trade-In' program, which offers credit toward a new purchase based on the condition of a returned iPhone, is a prime example. The company also sells refurbished products that have undergone functional checks and certification. It is a structure where manufacturers reclaim used devices and utilize them for both new product sales and used device resales.
The justification put forward by manufacturers is the environment. A Samsung Electronics official stated, "As it is a structure that reuses used devices, it aligns with the purpose of a circular economy," adding, "It can also help protect the natural environment by reducing electronic waste." Apple has also explained its collection and recycling efforts as part of its environmental strategy.
However, it is difficult to explain these moves by manufacturers solely through environmental impact. As smartphone prices rise and replacement cycles lengthen, it has become difficult to expand demand through new product sales alone. Trade-in programs serve to lower the financial burden for consumers purchasing new products. Certified used phones and refurbished products can draw consumers who are wary of the quality risks associated with individual trades into official distribution networks.
Ahn Jung-sang, an adjunct professor at Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Communication, said, "There is a coexistence of social policy aspects—such as environmental improvement and resource conservation through used phone recycling—and sales strategies aimed at compensating for revenue declines caused by sluggish sales of expensive premium devices by increasing the number of used phone users."
There are advantages for consumers as well. Using official channels can reduce the risk of fraud and the stress of price haggling compared to peer-to-peer transactions. Certified used phones, inspected and guaranteed by the manufacturer, also offer high reliability regarding quality and after-sales service.
The issue is that official channels do not always guarantee the most favorable deal for the consumer. Compensation values vary significantly based on the device's condition and grade. As of June 9, the highest-grade compensation for a 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra under the Galaxy Easy Trade-In program was 758,000 won. This was not a low level compared to the highest-grade purchase prices offered by other used phone dealers.
However, for the same model, the compensation drops to 374,000 won if it receives the next grade down, 'Good'. A single grade difference can cut the compensation nearly in half. This means there can be a significant gap between the maximum compensation price seen by the consumer and the actual amount received.
