Smartphone maker Samsung may soon begin selling refurbished versions of its high-end smartphones, Reuters reported Monday.
According to Reuters, the company is eyeing a recycled device program akin to that run by Apple, where it resells gently used devices at a discounted price. The devices sold as part of such programs are usually refreshed with a new outside casing, battery or other components as needed.
The report indicated the company would start with refurbished smartphones from users on one-year upgrade programs in South Korea and the United States. It is not yet clear, though, where the refurbished devices will be sold, how much of a discount will be given or how many devices Samsung might sell, Reuters said.
The move comes as smartphone giants Samsung and Apple look to increase their presence in growing markets like India, where the entry level price for smartphones is much lower than in the United States.
In May, India reportedly blocked Apple’s request to sell refurbished iPhones in the market there. But Samsung already has a leg up in that market.
According to International Data Corporation’s (IDC) second quarter 2016 report, Samsung accounted for 25.1 percent of India’s smartphone market share. Apple, by contrast, was not listed among the top five vendors in the country.
Though not immediately available, the details of Samsung’s program and strategy may soon become apparent. The Reuters report indicated the refurbishment plan could be finalized “as early as 2017.”