US shoppers more excited for iPhone 15, survey claims

Those iPhone 11s are up for an upgrade this year.

Apple may totter a little as China’s government emulates the US as it adopts a less open, nativist position toward products made by American firms, but the impact may be more bark than bite. All the same, as many as 16% of Apple’s existing users may plan to upgrade to iPhone 15 when it appears, a report claims.

More excitement than we’ve seen for years?

This is actually a higher percentage than we saw with the iPhone 14 (14%) or iPhone 13 (10%) says annual research from Savings.com. “Despite expected record-high price points for the new line, our survey revealed more iPhone upgrade excitement than in previous years,” they said.

In part, I guess this is because many users now plan to upgrade from popular models of older Apple device, particularly from iPhone 11 and iPhone X. The news also hints Apple may maintain its growing marketshare across the smartphone world.

But price is painful

The report also suggests that Apple could see another third of owners (31 percent) considering an upgrade, but more than half – 53 percent – do not plan to, partly on the basis of price.

Of course, price is a deterrent, but Apple has been pretty clear in suggesting it does not want people updating devices on an annual basis. That’s why it supports its devices for a longer period than competitors. Indeed, it is arguable that the days when consumers expected to upgrade their device each year are also ending. All the same, 10% of people still seek an annual upgrade.

Who will upgrade?

Those who have owned their current iPhones for three years are most likely to trade up for the iPhone 15, while 10 percent with iPhones less than a year old are still planning to upgrade, Savings.com said.

They also identified the most popular speculations concerning the new devices, with the improved camera, battery and RAM exciting the most attention. Battery enhancements are particularly desired: 43% of users who initially had no plans to upgrade their iPhones would reconsider if the iPhone 15 incorporated this feature, they said.

What they said

“Similar to last year, nearly half of current iPhone users are considering an immediate upgrade to the iPhone 15, with 16 percent planning to purchase the model on release. Quick upgrades are most probable among owners who’ve had their current iPhones for three years. That willingness corresponds with many providers’ trade-in provisions,” they added.

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