Apple is set to unveil its iPhone 17 series at the "Awe Dropping" hardware event next week. One question we might want to ask is how many people actually want to upgrade to Apple"s latest devices.
A new survey report published by SellCell sheds light on the percentage of iPhone owners who might be willing to loosen their pockets for the new iPhone. Its data, collected after surveying over 2,000 US-based iPhone owners, suggests that 68% or nearly 7 out of 10 iPhone owners plan to upgrade to iPhone 17 at launch.
That"s an increase from last year, when almost 62% of iPhone owners said that they wanted to buy the iPhone 16 at launch.
According to previous rumors and reports circulating on the web, this year"s iPhone lineup is expected to include the standard iPhone 17 models, the Pro models, and a new ultra-thin variant dubbed iPhone 17 Air.
Out of the planned ugraders, about 38% of iPhone owners are looking at the Pro/Pro Max model, 16.7% want to buy the standard model, and 13.5% want the iPhone 17 Air.
The iPhone is a premium device, making it a challenging purchase choice for many. The device"s average selling price has exceeded $900, which is the highest for any smartphone on the market. About 68% of users think that the iPhone"s high price acts as the top barrier, which could be a reason for not upgrading.
However, the stickiness of Apple"s ecosystem and the fact that more people are putting their money into premium smartphones than before could be the driving force that allows Apple to retain its market lead.
The data suggests that 72.9% users are more satisfied with their iPhone today than in past years. Meanwhile, 27.1% think that the Cupertino giant has "lost its edge" when compared to rivals. Apple has not been able to catch up with the latest trend in the industry: generative AI.
While the company managed to launch its Apple Intelligence suite last year, the upgraded version of Siri shows no signs of immediate launch. Apple has also not entered the foldable device category, where other giants, such as Samsung and Google, have released multiple versions over the years.
Apple"s delay in launching a foldable could force users to jump ship. A small percentage of users are waiting for a foldable iPhone, and 20.1% say they would consider switching to Samsung if Apple doesn"t launch one until 2026. However, about 70% loyal users would choose to stick with Apple.
Looking at the reasons why people want to upgrade to iPhone 17, about 53.2% people consider improved battery life as a major driving factor. AI is the latest talk of the town, but only 7% people consider it a reason.
Other than that, about one-third of the users want to see improvements in display tech, new design, and features. While some iPhone users consider price as a red flag, it"s not a problem for others. About 34% of the users would still buy the iPhone 17 if prices increase as a result of the tariffs or other factors. Let"s wait to see what Apple has in store for this year on September 9.