How Apple Is Quietly Controlling the Secondhand iPhone Market

Apple has never sold a used iPhone directly, yet it now influences roughly 60% of the global secondary smartphone market—worth over $50 billion in 2025. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the mechanics: how the activation lock, iOS trade-in programs, and the shift to eSIM have given Apple unprecedented control over device resale. They examine the recent EU push for interoperable iOS features that could loosen Apple's grip, and what that means for consumers and independent resellers. Specific numbers include the 350 million iPhones sold secondhand annually, the 22% price premium Apple devices command on the used market, and the estimated $8 billion in lost revenue for third-party refurbishers if Apple's current trajectory holds. A concrete look at how planned obsolescence meets market dominance in the world of pre-owned iPhones. #Apple #iPhone #SecondhandMarket #ResaleValue #ActivationLock #TradeIn #ESIM #Refurbished #PlannedObsolescence #EUSmartphones #DigitalMarketsAct #ConsumerRights #RightToRepair #Technology #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #AppleEcosystem Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo