Buying the latest laptop or smartphone has become far more expensive than it was just a few years ago. As prices continue to climb, many Americans are rethinking whether a brand-new device is really worth the extra cost.

Instead of paying hundreds of dollars more for minor upgrades, shoppers are increasingly turning to refurbished electronics that deliver reliable performance at a lower price. This shift is changing how consumers view secondhand technology, making it a practical choice rather than a last resort.

Rising Prices Are Changing Habits

The cost of new technology has increased sharply, pushing more buyers toward the refurbished market. In June, Apple announced price increases of 20% for selected Macs and 25% for certain iPads. As a result, some MacBook Pro models became about $300 more expensive.

Apple CEO Tim Cook attributed the higher prices to memory chip shortages linked to the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, describing the added costs as “unavoidable.”

Instagram | chiefgyk3d | Apple’s recent price hikes are driving budget-conscious tech buyers straight to refurbished models.

Apple is not the only company raising prices. Dell has also increased prices on several products, while Microsoft’s Surface PCs now cost up to $500 more than they did two years ago. Xbox consoles are also expected to rise by roughly $150 later this summer.

With technology becoming less affordable, shoppers are paying closer attention to value instead of chasing the newest release.

Refurbished Devices Gain Momentum

Angie Cardona-Nelson, who has spent nearly two decades recycling electronic waste and selling refurbished laptops, smartphones, and accessories, has noticed a dramatic change in customer behavior. Laptops that once remained listed on eBay for several weeks are now selling within hours at full asking prices.

According to Cardona-Nelson, buyers have become far less concerned about cosmetic flaws such as scratches. Instead, the priority is finding dependable technology at a reasonable price.

“We are experiencing a fundamental shift on mindset for refurbishing,” she said.

That change is reflected across the market. A CNET poll conducted by YouGov among 2,600 U.S. adults found that nearly half had considered purchasing a secondhand technology product during the past year. Millennials and Generation Z showed significantly greater interest in refurbished devices than older age groups.

Higher Prices Are Fueling Demand

As manufacturers pass rising production costs on to customers, refurbished technology continues to attract new buyers.

Lauren Benton, General Manager of Back Market’s U.S. business, said higher retail prices have produced an immediate effect.

“This is an unintentional advertising campaign for us,” Benton explained. “When Apple announces” a price increase, “we immediately see the impact.”

Following Apple’s latest announcement, MacBook sales on Back Market jumped 62% compared with the previous week. Benton noted that purchases were “overindexed on new customers,” showing that many first-time buyers were willing to consider refurbished products.

Back Market had previously experienced sales increases after price hikes and tariff announcements, including those introduced by President Donald Trump last year. However, Benton said the recent surge has been much stronger than earlier spikes.

Consumers Are Researching Before They Buy

The secondhand electronics market has traditionally centered on smartphones. That pattern is beginning to change.

At PayMore, a retailer specializing in buying, trading, and selling pre-owned electronics through physical stores, demand for computers and computer components has increased by 30% over the past three to six months.

Company President Erik Helgesen believes buyers are becoming more informed before making purchasing decisions.

“Consumers are becoming much more educated,” Helgesen said.

Instead of automatically purchasing the newest model, shoppers are comparing specifications and identifying refurbished laptops that meet their needs without the premium price.

Back-to-school shopping may have contributed to the recent increase in demand, but Benton believes consumer attitudes are shifting beyond seasonal buying. Many customers are asking themselves whether they truly need every new feature being advertised.

“They can still be able to get great tech, access all the AI up in the web, and really not feel any difference,” Benton said.

Smaller Upgrades Boost Refurbished Tech

Instagram | iphone_15__pro | The iPhone 15’s new AI features are failing to convince buyers that an upgrade is actually necessary.

Many recent product launches have struggled to convince consumers that upgrading is necessary.

Although newer iPhones, including the iPhone 15 series and later models, introduced Apple Intelligence features, many buyers do not see AI capabilities as enough reason to spend significantly more.

Market research supports that trend. International Data Corporation projected that used smartphone shipments would grow 3.2% year over year during 2025, while new smartphone shipments were expected to grow by only 1% between 2025 and 2026.

Counterpoint Research reported that pre-owned smartphone sales increased by 4% in 2024 and another 3% in 2025. Preliminary figures for the first half of 2026 show a 13% increase in used smartphone sales, while shipments of new smartphones are forecast to decline by 12%.

Researchers attribute the trend to rising prices as well as “shrinkflation,” where newer devices offer only modest improvements over previous generations, making upgrades less attractive.

Younger Buyers Are Driving the Trend

Consumer attitudes toward artificial intelligence are also influencing purchasing decisions.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about one-quarter of Americans use AI chatbots every day, while roughly half said they never use them. Respondents were also more likely to believe AI would have a negative impact on society and their personal lives over the next 20 years. Millennials and Generation Z expressed more negative views than respondents aged 50 and older.

At the same time, interest in older technology is growing. eBay reported that searches for iPods increased by 20% year over year during 2025. Prices for the 2007 iPod Nano climbed by 60% between 2023 and 2025. Listings for iPod Shuffle devices also rose by nearly 30%, while searches for Sony Walkman products increased as well.

The growing interest reflects a preference for technology that performs essential tasks without constant upgrades or unnecessary features.

Back Market has also promoted this changing mindset through advertising campaigns encouraging consumers to “downgrade now,” highlighting practical devices that cost less while still meeting everyday needs.

Rising prices and smaller hardware improvements are changing the way Americans shop for technology. Instead of paying more for the newest models, many consumers are choosing refurbished devices that offer dependable performance at a lower cost.

As value becomes a higher priority than having the latest release, the secondhand tech market continues to attract a wider audience looking for practical and budget-friendly options.