Japan used iPhone, server sales surge as memory prices soar

ElectronicsSales of refurbished models more than double after Apple's price hikesJapan is seeing particularly high sales of used older iPhones like the SE. (Source photos by Reuters)AKINOBU IWASAWAAugust 15, 2026 03:30 JSTTOKYO -- Japanese consumers and businesses are turning more to used smartphones and IT equipment as memory shortages and the weak yen drive up prices, with refurbished iPhone sales more than doubling after Apple announced price hikes in July.Read NextSemiconductorsMemory makers flush with $90bn cash flow on AI gold rushMaterialsJapan struggles to secure rare earths for EVs, chip tools under China pressureEquitiesJapan dividends heading to record high on chip, AI gainsSemiconductorsJapan's Kioxia forecasts 31-fold profit surge as tech shares swingSemiconductorsWhy Kioxia i