By Natalie Kaufman
Cracked your laptop screen? Discovered your phone no longer gets software updates? You're now facing a stiffer penalty than before, as device prices go anywhere but down.
The global memory-chip shortage that has dogged device makers in recent years -- triggered by AI's voracious appetite for the same silicon found in nearly all consumer tech -- has even begun to cause pain for supply-chain heavyweight Apple.
The iPhone maker plans to raise prices in the coming months, Chief Executive Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, citing rising component costs tied to memory constraints.
Hardware makers of all sizes will have little choice but to share the burden with consumers -- either by raising prices or compromising on components, says Emily Herbert, a senior analyst with Counterpoint Research who leads the firm's global preowned smartphone service.
That makes the secondary market an attractive starting point for more people than ever before, she says, especially those shopping for their kid's first phone.
"Not a lot of parents will want to hand a 10- to 15-year-old an almost $2,000 device," Herbert says.
Turning to refurbished phones, laptops and even game consoles can be a great money-saving move, but it presents its own complications, so you need to be vigilant.
Assess your own gadget
It's often the case that a seemingly spent device just needs a new battery, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars, says Kyle Wiens, chief executive of iFixit, an online tech-repair community.
If you notice your battery dying halfway through the day, it's worth considering a battery replacement. They are typically cheaper than repairs to a screen or camera, and installing a fresh one can actually improve performance speeds, too.
For iPhones, Apple's repair page lists replacement-service prices for models going back years. Even if you don't use Apple's service, it's a way to evaluate your cost options.
In case you're DIY-curious: Performing your own iPhone battery replacement requires patience and deftness beyond many of us, but for other popular electronics, such as a Nintendo Switch, iFixit has clear instructions and even sells the necessary parts.
Choose a marketplace
There's no shortage of used-tech vendors, but you shouldn't trust them all equally. Much like browsing for a used car, customers should do their due diligence -- comparing prices across websites and scanning seller ratings before initiating a purchase, says Wiens.
Apple and other big brands have their own refurbished pipelines, and there's also a mature ecosystem of third-party marketplaces including Back Market, Reebelo and Swappa.
Back Market says it works exclusively with professional sellers who are subject to inventory audits. The company offers warranties on its devices and vets its sellers. It offers free returns for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of receiving an item.
Reebelo also offers 12-month vendor warranties with coverage for some software and hardware defects. The company, which connects buyers with third-party sellers, conducts background checks to vet vendors and rigorous diagnostics to ensure product quality, said Taylor Munguia, Reebelo's chief commercial officer.
"We do a thorough screening of any merchant that's selling on our marketplace," he says. Reebelo also has a 30-day free return policy.
Swappa goes to great lengths to ensure sellers and their gadgets are legitimate and of high quality, says founder and CEO Ben Edwards. Before all listings are posted to the site, they are subject to a photo-verification process. Sellers must also provide relevant device information such as a product's serial number to prove legitimacy.
That said, Edwards is clear-eyed about the prevalence of scammers in the used-gadget market. Swappa has evolved its verification processes over the years to guard against new and emerging threats, including the rise of AI-generated images.
If you're shopping on nonspecialized platforms such as Amazon or eBay, Edwards recommends paying close attention to the seller's status. Those with plenty of five-star ratings are often a safe bet, he says. ( Amazon.com has its own refurbishing program for lots of popular electronics.)
Mind the specs
Before buying a used phone, shoppers should ensure that it is compatible with their wireless carrier, says Michael Fisher, who runs the tech-review YouTube channel MrMobile. For U.S. carriers, you're typically fine with an "unlocked" phone.
Changing a device might also render your old charging cables and accessories obsolete, he adds. Upgrading to a newer iPhone, for example, might mean ditching Lightning cables for USB-C, which became the norm with the iPhone 15.
If longevity is a concern, Fisher recommends buying from a manufacturer that supports the most recent software updates. This can guard against new and emerging cyber threats capable of compromising a vulnerable device.
And iPhone shoppers who want the latest features should bear this in mind: Apple Intelligence, including the completely rebuilt Siri, is only on the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 lines. If you want the most advanced on-device AI capabilities, you'll need at least an iPhone Air or a 17 Pro.
Write to Natalie Kaufman at natalie.kaufman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 21, 2026 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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