PH gets a new player in refurbished smartphones

A successful launch will give Filipino shoppers a reliable alternative to buy pre-owned phones when new models cost too much.

A Malaysian retailer is betting Filipinos will buy more used phones if they can trust what they’re getting.

3cat, a refurbished-electronics retailer co-founded by Malaysian tech entrepreneur Karl Loo, the founder of services marketplace ServisHero, is entering the Philippines after raising US$4 million in Series A funding led by Foxmont Capital Partners, with participation from ADB Ventures and Golden Gate Ventures.

The Business Post reported the funding and Philippine expansion, which will make the country 3cat’s first market outside Malaysia. The company has grown to more than 20 stores there, selling pre-owned devices that undergo a 56-point quality check and come with a 12-month warranty.

That approach could give Filipino buyers another way to shop for used phones, particularly those who want the lower price of a pre-owned device but are wary of buying from an unfamiliar seller. 3cat is betting that standardized checks, warranties and a physical retail presence can make refurbished phones feel less like a gamble and more like a legitimate alternative to buying new.

The company said 18.4 million smartphones were sold in the Philippines in 2025, nearly twice Malaysia’s volume, giving 3cat a sizeable market to pursue as new phones become increasingly expensive. Cheaper devices backed by some form of warranty could appeal to consumers trying to stretch their budgets.

“Trust is what makes this category scalable,” Loo said.

If 3cat gets that right, Filipino consumers could have another option when the latest phone they want costs more than they want to spend. And local sellers may find themselves competing with a business model that puts a price on something the informal market rarely guarantees, confidence.

READ: