The smartphone business is no longer defined only by new-device sales. Longer replacement cycles, higher device prices, refurbished phones and growing access to repair are creating a larger economic role for the aftermarket.

What is the smartphone aftermarket?

The smartphone aftermarket covers the products and services that keep devices in use after their original sale. It includes replacement screens and batteries, charging components, cameras and other spare parts, repair labor, refurbished and pre-owned phones, trade-ins, accessories and related services.

This distinction matters because the aftermarket is not one standardized market. A report about refurbished smartphone sales is measuring something different from a report about replacement parts or repair services. Market-size figures should therefore be compared only when their definitions, geography and revenue basis are the same.

Why new smartphone sales do not tell the whole story

Global smartphone shipments grew about 2% year over year in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple led the market with 20% shipment share, while Samsung held 19%.

The picture changed sharply in 2026. Counterpoint reported that global smartphone shipments fell 6% year over year in Q1 2026, and its May 2026 outlook forecast a 13.9% decline for the full year, to about 1.08 billion units. Memory-component shortages and higher component costs were major factors.

At the same time, premium phones remain economically important. Counterpoint reported that the global smartphone average selling price passed $400 for the first time in a quarter in Q4 2025, while smartphone revenue reached a record $143 billion for that quarter. Higher device values can make repair and refurbishment more attractive because owners have more value to preserve.

What this means for the aftermarket

• Slower new-device sales can increase the importance of keeping existing phones in service.
• Higher replacement costs can make repair a more attractive alternative.
• Premium devices create greater economic value for quality refurbishment and repair.
• Longer software support and durable hardware can extend the period in which parts and service are needed.

Repair parts are a major growth opportunity

The Business Research Company estimates that the global mobile device repair parts market will grow from $20.67 billion in 2025 to $23.45 billion in 2026, with a projected value of $39.18 billion by 2030. The report covers parts used for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, including displays, batteries, camera modules, connectors, buttons and speakers. These figures refer specifically to the mobile device repair parts market; they should not be presented as the size of the entire smartphone aftermarket.

Why repair parts demand is increasing

• Higher device prices: Expensive phones can justify repair instead of replacement.
• Longer ownership: Consumers are keeping devices for longer, creating more opportunities for battery, display and other repairs.
• Online parts availability: Repair shops and technicians can source replacement components from a wide range of suppliers.
• Independent repair: More repair providers can access parts, documentation and diagnostic resources.
• Repair regulation: New rules in some markets are increasing the availability of spare parts and repair information.

The quality question is becoming more important

A larger parts market does not automatically mean that every replacement part is equivalent. Displays, batteries, cameras and other components can vary in materials, calibration, compatibility, reliability and warranty support.

For repair businesses, the practical opportunity is therefore not simply to sell more parts. It is to reduce repeat repairs, improve first-time repair success and make part quality easier for technicians to evaluate.

Refurbished smartphones and the secondary market

Refurbishment is another important part of the mobile aftermarket. Counterpoint Research reports that global refurbished smartphone sales grew 5% in 2024. Apple accounted for 56% of refurbished smartphone sales that year, up from 51% in 2023.

Growth moderated in the first half of 2025: global refurbished smartphone sales increased 3% year-over-year. Counterpoint reported strong performance in emerging markets, while several mature markets were broadly flat. Apple remained particularly strong, with refurbished iPhone sales increasing 7% year over year in H1 2025.

More recent regional data show that affordability continues to support refurbishment. In India, refurbished smartphone volumes increased 13% year over year in H1 2026 while new smartphone volumes fell around 11%, according to Counterpoint Research.

Why refurbishment supports the repair ecosystem

A refurbished phone often passes through inspection, testing, repair, parts replacement and quality grading before resale. That creates demand for the same repair skills and components used by service shops, while also creating a second revenue opportunity for businesses that can combine repair and refurbishment.

Right-to-repair is changing parts availability

Regulation is becoming one of the clearest structural changes in the repair market. In the European Union, ecodesign requirements for smartphones and slate tablets placed on the EU market have applied since June 20, 2025.

The European Commission says the rules include requirements covering repair and disassembly, spare-part availability and software support. Critical spare parts must be available to professional repairers within 5–10 working days and for seven years after the end of placement of the product model on the EU market. The rules also require non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to software or firmware needed for replacement work.

The EU framework also introduces a repairability score on the energy label. The policy direction is important because it makes repairability a product characteristic rather than only a service-market issue.

Apple and independent repair

Apple's Independent Repair Provider program gives qualifying businesses access to Apple genuine parts, tools, repair manuals, diagnostics and training for eligible out-of-warranty repairs. Apple does not publish a current universal count of IRP locations on the pages reviewed here, so older figures should not be presented as a current 2026 total.

Regional market differences

The aftermarket does not develop at the same pace everywhere.

North America

North America is a mature repair and refurbishment market with significant premium-device demand. The Business Research Company identifies North America as the largest region for the mobile device repair parts market in 2025. High device values, established service networks and strong online parts distribution support the market.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the mobile device repair parts market according to the same market study. The region also contains very large smartphone markets with different repair models, from highly organized service networks to independent and informal repair businesses.

Europe

Europe is particularly important from a regulatory perspective. The EU's ecodesign rules make repairability, spare-parts access and software support increasingly relevant to manufacturers, repair providers and parts suppliers.

Emerging markets

Emerging markets can benefit from the affordability of used and refurbished premium phones. Counterpoint's India data from H1 2026 is a strong example: refurbished volumes grew while new-device volumes declined, showing how higher new-phone prices can redirect demand toward the secondary market.

What the market means for repair businesses and parts suppliers

1. Focus on repairable, high-value devices

Premium smartphones can support high-value repair transactions because the cost of preserving an existing device is lower than replacing it with a comparable new model.

2. Build around the parts technicians replace most

Displays, batteries, charging components, cameras and other common replacement categories should form the foundation of a practical parts catalog. The exact mix should be based on a supplier's own sales and repair data rather than unsupported global failure-rate percentages.

3. Make compatibility and quality easy to understand

Clear model compatibility, part specifications, testing standards, warranty terms and installation information can reduce purchasing uncertainty and support repeat business.

4. Treat repair and refurbishment as connected markets

A business that supplies repair shops can also support refurbishers. Both need dependable displays, batteries, charging components, cameras, housing components and test equipment.

5. Invest in technical capability

As smartphones become more integrated, repair businesses can differentiate through board-level repair, microsoldering, diagnostics, data recovery, calibration and other specialized services where appropriate.

6. Use regulation as a planning signal

Parts availability, repair documentation and software access are becoming increasingly important in major markets. Suppliers should monitor regional requirements rather than treating right-to-repair as a single worldwide rule.

Smartphone aftermarket outlook for 2026–2030

The most important trend is not simply that more smartphones are being repaired. It is that the economics of keeping a device in use are changing.

New smartphone shipments are under pressure in 2026, while device prices and component costs are rising. At the same time, refurbishing markets continue to provide a lower-cost route to premium hardware, and repair regulations are improving access to parts and technical resources in some regions.

For the repair parts segment specifically, The Business Research Company projects growth from $23.45 billion in 2026 to $39.18 billion by 2030. This is a market-research forecast, not a guaranteed outcome, and it should not be confused with the value of the entire smartphone aftermarket.

The bigger opportunity

The strongest long-term opportunity is likely to sit at the intersection of repair, refurbishment, parts distribution and device longevity. Businesses that can provide reliable components, technical knowledge, testing and efficient fulfillment are better positioned than businesses competing only for the lowest part price.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the smartphone aftermarket in 2026?

There is no single authoritative 2026 figure that combines repair services, repair parts, refurbished phones, accessories and other aftermarket activities. Different research firms define the market differently. For example, The Business Research Company estimates the mobile device repair parts market at $23.45 billion in 2026, while Counterpoint separately tracks refurbished and pre-owned smartphone markets.

Is the smartphone repair parts market growing?

Yes. The Business Research Company estimates the mobile device repair parts market will grow from $20.67 billion in 2025 to $23.45 billion in 2026 and reach $39.18 billion by 2030.

Why are refurbished smartphones becoming more important?

Refurbished devices provide a lower-cost way to buy premium hardware. Counterpoint reported 5% global refurbished smartphone sales growth in 2024 and 3% growth in H1 2025, with stronger performance in several emerging markets.

Does right-to-repair increase access to smartphone parts?

In some jurisdictions, yes. The EU's smartphone ecodesign rules require certain critical spare parts to remain available for seven years after a model leaves the market and require professional repairers to receive them within 5–10 working days.

Which smartphone repair parts are most important?

Common categories include display assemblies, batteries, camera modules, charging components, connectors, buttons and speakers. Demand varies by device model, market and repair business, so supplier-level sales data is more useful than applying one global failure-rate estimate to every market.

The smartphone is no longer a luxury or a fashion item, but rather a part of our everyday lives. From morning till night, we use it to check the weather before going outside, follow our daily routine, contact friends and family, access the internet, and so on. Unfortunately, we only truly understand how important it is when it breaks or shows faulty results.

In recent years, the cell phone repair industry has seen unprecedented growth. This is primarily due to the increasing number of smartphone users worldwide and the rising cost of the latest devices. In this article, we will explore the current trends and statistics in the cell phone repair industry and its future prospects.

Smartphone Statistics You Must Know

In an effort to find out interesting statistics about the smartphone, REWA Tech discovered the following.

• 85% of Americans own a smartphone, while Nigeria has the lowest ownership rate at 19.7%.
• Global smartphone users are expected to reach 6.8 billion in 2023, a 4.2% increase from 2022.
• The average smartphone adoption rate over the past five years is 5%.
• China has the highest number of smartphone users.
• People spend an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phones each day.
• Average smartphone usage is 3 hours and 15 minutes per day
• Filipinos spend the highest average time on their smartphones, while the Japanese spend less time.
• Android is the most used operating system.
• Apple and Samsung are the most popular phone brands.

The Growth of the Cell Phone Repair Industry

The cell phone repair industry has been on an upward trend for the past few years, driven by the increasing popularity of smartphones. According to research, annual spending on new smartphone hardware currently exceeds 370 billion US dollars. Furthermore, the global cell phone repair industry is expected to reach $210 billion by 2023. This is primarily due to the rising number of smartphone users and the high cost of new smartphones.

With smartphones becoming more expensive, many users are opting to repair their devices instead of replacing them. Additionally, the increasing number of smartphone users worldwide has contributed to the growth of the repair industry, as more people seek out repair services for their devices.

Trends in the Cell Phone Repair Industry

The cell phone repair industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, primarily due to advancements in smartphone technology. Some of the current trends in the cell phone repair industry include:

• Increased complexity of smartphone technology: As smartphones become more complex, it has become more challenging to repair them. This trend has led to the emergence of specialized repair technicians who are trained to handle complex repairs.
• Growing demand for same-day repair services: With the increasing reliance on smartphones, customers are looking for quick and efficient repair services. This trend has led to the emergence of same-day repair services, which are becoming increasingly popular among customers.
• Increased competition from manufacturers: Smartphone manufacturers are now offering repair services, which is putting pressure on independent repair businesses. To remain competitive, cell phone repair businesses will need to offer high-quality services at competitive prices.
• Samsung Patent Suit: Samsung filed a lawsuit to prevent imports of non-Samsung OLED phone screens. This could put independent phone repair shops out of business by preventing the import of replacement screens from offshore regions like China.

The Future of the Cell Phone Repair Industry

In 2021, Apple launched a self-service program that allows you to fix or repair your iPhone yourself. Following this, other cell phone brands are also seeking to expand their self-service programs. For example, earlier this year Nokia partnered with iFixit, and Samsung is also planning to launch a self-repair program, but only in India for now. However, the main problem is that in most cases, it becomes more expensive than buying a new phone. Therefore, there is no doubt that individual users will find a technician or repair shop to fix or repair their cell phone issues.

Unfortunately, most manufacturers make their devices so complex that only technicians can fix or repair them. Some companies even produce non-repairable products, but the good news is that governments in many countries are trying to regulate this by making products more repairable to reduce electronic waste. New York passed a right-to-repair bill in December, and many other US states and EU countries are also considering passing similar laws. The benefits of this will largely go to repair shops, which will create more investment in this field.

According to Statista, the number of people who own cell phones worldwide has exceeded 6.5 billion, and the number is expected to increase to 7.6 billion by 2027. Since the advent of the cell phone, the phone repair market has been growing every year. It is likely that the demand for repair services will continue to rise as smartphones and other mobile devices become more popular.

Market Insights published a research in 2021, which claimed the value of the smartphone repair market was $185 billion. And it is expected to grow to over $260 billion by 2026. This is a clear indication of the growth of the cell phone repair industry.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Is the Cell Phone Repair Business Profitable?

A1: Currently, the mobile phone repair industry in the United States is valued at $4 billion, which is expected to continue growing. The average cell phone repair business earns between $50,000 and $80,000 per year, with growth potential increasing as the business expands.

Q2: What are the Most Common Cell Phone Repairs?

A2: The most common cell phone repairs include screen replacement, battery replacement, water damage repair, charging port replacement or swaps, and camera replacement.

Q3: How much does it cost to repair a smartphone?

A3: The cost of repairing a smartphone varies depending on the severity of the damage, the model of the device, the location, and the technician. An average smartphone repair is estimated to cost between $50 and $400. It is always recommended that you discuss the repair price before performing the repair.

Q4: Can I repair my smartphone myself?

A5: While it's possible to carry out certain smartphone repairs at home with the help of our step-by-step video guide, we strongly recommend that you seek assistance from a professional technician due to the inherent risks involved. Attempting to fix your smartphone on your own can potentially result in further damage and may even void your warranty.

Q6: How long does it take to repair a smartphone?

A6: The repair time for a smartphone can vary depending on several factors, such as the specific issue with the device, the availability of replacement parts, and the expertise of the technician performing the repair. Some repairs may take just a few hours, while others may take several days. It's advisable to consult with a qualified technician for a more accurate estimate of the repair time for your particular smartphone issue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cell phone repair industry is a growing market with promising future prospects. The industry has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing popularity of smartphones and the high cost of new devices. While the future looks promising, businesses in this industry will need to keep up with the latest trends and advancements in smartphone technology to remain competitive.

With the rapidly growing cell phone repair parts market, REWA recognizes the need to capitalize on this opportunity. In order to do so, the company plans to utilize new technologies and focus on providing exceptional customer service. By staying ahead of the curve and embracing emerging technologies, REWA aims to offer cutting-edge repair solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers. 

Source:
https://www.zippia.com/advice/smartphone-usage-statistics/

https://blog.gitnux.com/cell-phone-repair-statistics/

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/smartphone-usage-stats

https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/smartphone-market-share