Samsung is crushing Apple in the used phone market, with the company’s average resale price soaring to a historic high.

According to UPM, via ETNews, Samsung has hit a milestone that once felt out of reach. Its average resale price for used smartphones has crossed 270,000 won ($177) for the first time since tracking began, signaling a sharp shift in the secondary market.

Data from UPM shows Samsung’s average resale price reached 271,575 won ($178) in March. That is a steep jump from 173,844 won ($114) in February, up 56.2 percent in just a month. It also beats the previous record of 248,067 won ($163) by 9.5 percent.

Notably, Samsung is now leading in total transaction value, capturing 58.25 percent of the market, with Apple trailing at 41.62 percent. Just a month earlier, Samsung held only 35.85 percent, which highlights how quickly the balance has shifted.

Samsung moved 362,922 units in March, accounting for 75.34 percent, while Apple stood at 24.66 percent. Even with Apple maintaining a much higher average resale price of 786,156 won, Samsung’s scale has flipped the value equation in its favor.

Galaxy S26 cycle is driving the momentum

Strong sales of the Galaxy S26 lineup have pushed a wave of premium trade-ins into the secondary market. As existing Galaxy users upgrade, relatively newer and higher-end devices are flooding resale channels.

Samsung’s MX division set up a dedicated “Galaxy Value Innovation” team in 2024. The goal is simple: protect and improve residual value. Programs like certified refurbished devices and tighter pricing strategies are part of that push.

The used phone market has always been a stronghold for Apple when it comes to value retention, which is still partly true on a per-device basis. March shows a different kind of win for Samsung, control over volume and total value.

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