Authors of the Assurant survey on electronics use propose that consumers are content with their current devices and therefore aren’t seeking replacements. | Xolodan/Shutterstock
Demand for new phones and Wi-Fi connected products dropped in 2022, a survey found, likely due to economic pressures and pandemic-driven purchase over the last two years. Continue Reading
Nokia’s G22 phone model comes with a repair kit and instructions on how to replace the battery, screen and charging port. | Courtesy of Nokia
Intel and Nokia say they are helping to enhance recyclability and make it easier to repair devices.
The money will go toward growing the company’s footprint and improving user experience for its customers. | Jared Paben/E-Scrap News
Mobile device reseller ecoATM Gazelle secured a $50 million investment to expand its enterprise partnerships and platforms. Continue Reading
A patent dispute over screens may have wider implications for both consumers and the electronics repair industry. | Leszek Kobusinski/Shutterstock
A complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission by one of the world’s biggest smartphone companies seeks to halt imports of some aftermarket screens into the U.S., threatening the supply of parts to independent repair shops. Continue Reading
The latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report predicted that shipments of smartphones in 2023 will see a slight decline instead of growing, as was previously forecast.| Maxx Studio/Shutterstock
After initially forecasting an increase in global smartphone shipments, the International Data Corporation now says it expects shipments to decline about 1.1% in 2023. Continue Reading
People are increasingly trading in devices online instead of in-person, according to Assurant’s latest trend report. | Sonyerry/Shutterstock
The secondary device market continues to evolve, an Assurant market report finds, with more people opting to trade in devices online. Continue Reading
E-scrap collectors in Ghana check collected phones. | Courtesy of Closing the Loop
Mobile phone buyers in Japan will help finance African e-scrap collection and recycling, under a new partnership between FCNT, Dutch company Closing the Loop and Japanese trading giant ITOCHU.
Maryland-based Apkudo boosts supply chain efficiency to support repair, resale and recycling markets. | KovalchukOleksandr/Shutterstock
Apkudo, which helps companies manage connected devices, announced it received $37.5 million in Series C funding.
Certification and standardized grading can bring much-needed transparency to the refurbished device market, according to the CEO of Phonecheck. | Daniel-Krason/Shutterstock
I used to run a business that acquired and sold pre-owned mobile devices. It was a great model – we could buy less-than-perfect phones and other devices inexpensively, and with a little effort and elbow grease, sell them for a bit more.
Phonecheck’s robotic system automates parts of the grading process, speeding it up significantly and eliminating subjectivity. | Courtesy of Phonecheck
A company that provides used phone history reports has formally launched a robot that automatically grades a device’s cosmetic condition, performs diagnostics and erases data.