The smartphone market is going through a slowdown, but this scenario is creating new opportunities for the refurbished devices sector. According to the latest analysis by Omdia Smartphone Display Intelligence Serviceshipments of panels intended for refurbished smartphones are growing rapidlywhile display manufacturers look for alternatives to reducing demand from new phone makers.
One of the main factors behind this situation is the increase in memory priceswhich led several smartphone manufacturers to scale back their production plans. In fact, Omdia predicts that the demand for displays intended for new smartphones will be in 2026 will decrease by 12%. At the same time, companies that make panels are increasing their supply to the refurbished market to compensate for the decline in traditional orders.
In the first quarter of 2026, display shipments targeting refurbished smartphones have reached 298 million unitsrecording a 20% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. This result surpassed shipments to smartphone manufacturers, which remained at 289 million of panels in the same time frame.
The smartphone market and the impact of refurbished ones
The refurbished smartphone sector includes several areas, including panels used for user repairs, professional recovery activities for used devices and the sale of aftermarket replacement components. Although it is complex to precisely determine final demand due to the complex structure of the supply chain, the growth in shipments confirms the expansion of the market.
According to Omdia, the phenomenon is also linked to the characteristics of the display industry. The production of the panels requires significant investments and difficult infrastructures reduce quickly when demand decreases. For this reason, manufacturers are using the refurbished market as a solution to keep factories operational, better distribute fixed costs and limit economic pressure.
The growth mainly concerns OLED panelswhich are becoming increasingly available for refurbished smartphones. In the first quarter of 2026, OLEDs represented the 7% of display shipments to this market, compared to 2% recorded a year earlier. According to Joy Guo, Senior Principal Analyst of Omdia’s Displays division, the refurbished market works as a compensation element to absorb changes in demand from smartphone manufacturers.
