In 2026, the smartphone market has undergone significant shifts due to the relentless climb in memory prices. Not only have the costs of new models generally risen, but the residual value of second-hand phones has also witnessed a notable enhancement, with prices of certain sought-after models even experiencing a rebound. According to CCTV Business, the second-hand phone market in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen, Guangdong, has been buzzing with activity, with '99 new' (phones that are almost brand new, often just unboxed) and barely used second-hand phones becoming the hottest commodities. Market analysis reveals that in the first three quarters of the year, products priced above RMB 4,000 constituted over 68% of the second-hand phone market. Traditionally, second-hand phone prices would typically decrease over time, with it being common for popular models to depreciate by 20% within a year. However, this year, under the influence of the memory price surge, prices of second-hand phones have generally held steady, with some models even seeing their prices climb. For instance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has seen its price rise from just over RMB 3,000 to the range of RMB 4,300-4,400.