Android users still prefer buying their next phone: 54.9% want to own outright

Android Authority recently asked readers whether they’d buy a smartphone or rent one. Most still came down on the side of buying: 54.9% said they’d rather own their phone outright.

Still, a pretty large minority of Android Authority readers isn’t against the idea of renting. Premium Android phones keep getting more expensive, subscriptions already feel like a normal part of tech, and renting turns that big upfront price into smaller monthly payments. For people who upgrade often, or for buyers trying to keep a closer eye on their budget, that has obvious appeal.

Apple already has the iPhone Upgrade Program. Google tried Pixel Pass, then shut it down after two years. And refurbished-rental companies like MusicMagpie are growing as well. $4.8 billion in 2025 is one forecast, putting the sector at $4.8 billion in 2025 and $10.7 billion by 2034, which works out to roughly 9% annual growth. Another forecast is more conservative, pegging the market at $2.49 billion in 2025 and $5.8 billion by 2035. 34% of users late-2025 surveys add another clue: 34% of users in the US and UK between 18 and 44 said they’re open to renting.

If you replace your phone a lot, or you want a flagship without paying full price on day one, renting has a case. You may still lean toward buying, though. Over three to five years, renting can end up costing more, it adds one more monthly bill to the pile, and a lot of people still really want the feeling of ownership. In the market data cited in those forecasts, Asia-Pacific accounted for 38.6% of 2025 rental revenue, with North America behind it, while data from Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa remains more limited.

And this isn’t hypothetical. You can already get phone-rental plans through brand upgrade programs and refurbished-phone providers such as MusicMagpie.