Release

What Release does

Release is a Norway-headquartered, private consumer-electronics retailer specializing in quality-tested used and refurbished mobile devices, complemented by adjacent categories such as MacBooks, iPads, smartwatches, and accessories. Founded around 2020–2021 as the first dedicated used-phone retailer in the Norwegian market, the company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (release.no) where customers can configure devices by model, storage, color, grading, and battery capacity, alongside physical retail locations inherited from the March 2022 acquisition of Teknikmagasinet (65 stores in Norway and Sweden).

Core operations rest on a standardized quality and grading system: technicians test all phone functions (camera, buttons, screen, battery, charging port) and certify a minimum 80% battery health; devices are classified into three cosmetic tiers ("Nesten ikke brukt" / "Pent brukt" / "Litt mer brukt"); prior-owner data is wiped; and every sale carries a 2-year warranty, a 30-day return policy, and three complimentary accessories. Prices are positioned at 40–70% discounts to new-device retail, and the company extends graded savings to business buyers through its B2B division, Release Bedrift, which serves corporate device procurement.

The business model is hardware sales with ancillary revenue from accessories and a repair partnership with Conmodo. Go-to-market blends product-led, self-serve e-commerce with a content-marketing engine (Release-Magasinet, email, Instagram) and a direct enterprise sales motion. Growth capital from Verdane (2022) and a follow-on round (2024) has funded the Teknikmagasinet integration and category expansion. AI capabilities are limited today to a customer-service chatbot (Elise), positioning AI as a productivity tool rather than a differentiated asset.

Name

Release

Legal name

Release

Website

https://release.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Release is a Norway-based retailer of quality-tested, refurbished smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches, selling direct-to-consumer online and through physical stores in Norway and Sweden to price-conscious individuals and corporate buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refurbished Consumer Electronics

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)

akta.pro primary industry

Refurbished, Used & Recommerce Smartphones (CRACALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certified Refurbished Electronics Retail (CRACAJAD), Spare Parts & Replacement Components Retail (Batteries, Screens, Chargers) (CRACAJAG), Mobile Device (Smartphone/Tablet) Trade-in & Recycling (BPALAIAG)

Keywords

• Refurbished mobile phones
• Used smartphones resale
• Phone accessories
• Mobile repair services
• Pre-owned consumer electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandefjord

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Used Phone Sales: One-time hardware sales of refurbished mobile phones (iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel). Customers purchase phones at significantly reduced prices (up to 60-70% savings vs new) with various grading options and configurations.
2. Accessories Sales: Sales of phone accessories including cases, screen protectors, chargers, and cables. 3 free accessories included with each phone purchase.
3. Repair Services: Mobile phone and electronics repair services through partnership with Conmodo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Release is a Norwegian retailer specializing in quality-tested, refurbished/used mobile phones (primarily Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy), along with used MacBooks, iPads, smartwatches, and phone accessories. Every device is functionally tested, graded cosmetically, data-wiped, and backed by a 2-year warranty, 30-day return policy, and a minimum 80% battery capacity guarantee, sold at up to 60-70% below new retail prices. The offering is extended by mobile repair services (via Conmodo partnership), a B2B division (Release Bedrift) for corporate device procurement, and an editorial content hub (Release-Magasinet).

Product overview

Release is a Norwegian consumer electronics retailer specializing in used and certified mobile phones, tablets, and computers, complemented by new products. The core product line consists of used Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones (with brands including iPhone SE through iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 5), sold alongside MacBook computers and iPads. Products are supported by a quality grading system ('Nesten ikke brukt', 'Pent brukt', 'Litt mer brukt'), a 2-year warranty, and 30-day open purchase. Three complimentary accessories are included with every used phone purchase. The offering is extended by mobile repair services (via Conmodo partnership), a business division (Release Bedrift) for corporate device procurement, and an editorial content hub (Release-Magasinet) providing technology guides. An AI-powered customer service chatbot (Elise) handles inquiries 24/7.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brukt Mobiltelefon (Used Mobile Phones) Refurbished and quality-tested Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones, cosmetically graded ('Nesten ikke brukt', 'Pent brukt', 'Litt mer brukt') with guaranteed minimum 80% battery capacity, sold with a 2-year warranty, 30-day open purchase policy, and 3 free accessories; targeted at price-conscious Norwegian consumers and businesses at 60-70% below new retail.
• iPad Used and new iPads (iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini) in various storage and cellular configurations, sold with warranty and quality assurance, including 3 free accessories on used models.
• MacBook Used and new MacBook computers, including MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models (e.g., MacBook Air 13-inch M2 2022, MacBook Air M4 2025), sold with quality assurance and warranty.
• Mobildeksel og Tilbehør (Mobile Cases and Accessories) Phone cases, screen protectors, chargers, and cables from brands including Cellularline, PanzerGlass, Apple, Samsung, DFRNT, Vivanco, eSTUFF, Turtos, and iiglo; 3 accessories are included free with used phone purchases.
• Mobilreparasjon (Mobile Repair) Mobile phone and electronics repair services for screens, batteries, cameras, and other components, delivered through a partnership with Conmodo for all mobile phones and electronics.
• Release Bedrift (Release Business) B2B service offering used iPhones and MacBooks to Norwegian companies, with bulk ordering, device advice, setup assistance, and rapid replacement; popular models include iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and MacBook Air, with savings of up to 40-60% versus new prices.
• Outlet Extra-discounted products including outlet phones (e.g., iPhone SE 2020 64GB C-grade with known defects), sold at significantly reduced prices with corresponding limitations noted.
• Smartklokker (Smartwatches) Refurbished and new smartwatches including Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, sold with quality assurance and warranty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60-70% savings compared to new phone prices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ConmodosupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with Conmodo for mobile phone and electronics repair services. Conmodo handles repairs of all mobile phones and electronic devices sold through Release.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Back Market: Back Market is a large French-based global marketplace for refurbished electronics (smartphones, laptops, tablets, consoles). It competes with Release in the same recommerce category but at much larger scale and with a multi-category, multi-seller marketplace model that differs from Release's vertically controlled inventory approach.
• Elkjøp: Elkjøp is the largest Nordic consumer electronics big-box retailer, operating across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. It overlaps with Release as a destination for new and used consumer electronics purchases in Norway and Sweden, but Elkjøp's portfolio is much broader and used devices are a small, non-core category versus Release's focused recommerce proposition.
• Power (Power.no): Power is a major Norwegian and Nordic consumer electronics and home appliance retailer with both online and physical stores. It competes for the same consumer wallet as Release on smartphones, laptops, and tablets, but its core offering is new electronics with used devices as a secondary category.
• Komplett: Komplett is a leading Norwegian online retailer of consumer electronics, computers, and mobile devices. It overlaps with Release in Norwegian consumer tech purchasing intent but competes predominantly on new SKUs rather than refurbished recommerce.

Direct peers

• Swappie: Swappie is a Finnish-headquartered recommerce platform specializing in refurbished iPhones sold directly to consumers across Europe with warranty. It is the closest direct competitor to Release in the Nordic refurbished smartphone category, with overlapping target customer (price-conscious consumer), overlapping sourcing and grading operations, and an overlapping geographic footprint in Northern Europe.
• Phonecare: Phonecare is a Nordic mobile phone repair and refurbishment chain with stores across Sweden and other Nordic markets. It overlaps with Release in refurbished smartphone retail and mobile repair services and represents a regional recommerce competitor with strong physical retail presence in Sweden.

Others

• Refurbed: Refurbed is an Austrian-founded European marketplace for refurbished consumer electronics including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. It overlaps with Release in the refurbished smartphone value proposition and warranty-based trust layer, but operates a marketplace model across many categories rather than Release's focused Nordic direct-retail approach.
• iFixit: iFixit is a global repair parts, tools, and repair guide platform for consumer electronics. It is adjacent to Release's recommerce and repair ecosystem by supporting device longevity and refurbishment supply, though it sells parts and guides to consumers and technicians rather than competing for end-device resale.
• Conmodo: Conmodo is a Norwegian mobile phone and electronics repair services provider that partners with Release to handle all repair services for devices sold through Release. It is an enabling partner that supports Release's product value chain rather than a direct competitor.
• Teknikmagasinet: Teknikmagasinet is the 65-store Nordic electronics retailer acquired by Release in 2022. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary covering consumer electronics, hobby, and household products in Norway and Sweden, providing the physical retail distribution backbone for Release's recommerce expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/releasemobil
• Facebookfacebook.com/releaseretail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/releasemobil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Release