The iPhone 7 is sounding like it will be one of Apple’s least dramatic “full number” iPhone upgrades in years, and according to polling data, it’s not exactly going to be a “must have” item.
In a new survey by Quartz, just 10 percent of respondents said they’d be looking to upgrade their iPhone this year if Apple doesn’t redesign the handset — classing themselves as either “likely” or “very likely” to upgrade if Apple doesn’t upgrade the overall appearance of its next-gen smartphone.
That number compared to 45.9 percent who would be “not at all likely” to upgrade in this instance, or 33.3 percent who would be “not so likely.” The remaining 11.4 percent said they were “somewhat likely” to do so.
On top of this, 70 percent said they would increase the amount of time between iPhone upgrades if Apple moves to a three-year major iPhone refresh cycle rather than upgrading the look of its handsets every other year.
Polls, of course, are far from infallible, and this one was carried out with a relatively small data set of 525 iPhone users in the United States. Extrapolating global smartphone trends from this poll isn’t exactly bulletproof science.
Provided that the rumors about the iPhone 7 are true, however, it is surprising to see that Apple would choose the first year with declining iPhone sales to debut one of its most incremental improvements in history. Granted, the idea of an improved iPhone 6s with a better camera sounds pretty great from my perspective, but it’s sounding a long way from next year’s massive refresh — rumored to be so big that Apple might skip the iPhone 7s name completely and jump straight to iPhone 8.
Will you be buying the iPhone 7 if it isn’t a massive iPhone 6-style refresh, but rather a subtle “s”-type upgrade? Leave your comments below.
Source: Quartz
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
20 responses to “Just 10 percent of iPhone owners ‘very likely’ to upgrade to iPhone 7”
decision after keynote.
I’ll be buying it, seems some people are easily sold one something that looks different. It’s what’s inside that matters, what the phone does and the software. People just want a new design for the sake of it.
My theory is they started Apple Upgrade Program last year so people would be incentivized to upgrade when they otherwise may not have. People were expecting a big update this year so they eagerly jumped on board and now it’s unexciting but it’s the same monthly price so why not. Apple had the foresight to know that this year was going to suck.
How is it that the iPhone 6 and 6s are great phones, but since there is little cosmetic change to the iPhone 7 it “sucks”? It’s the same great phone with a faster processor, better camera and several new features and benefits. This is what is called “incremental change”, and I’m glad Apple works this way rather than coming up with a new body design every year. Apple is about usability, stability and functionality–and we already have that in the iPhone. I don’t need some wiz-bang new body that offers me cosmetic change only.
I agree with the main point here. Even if I don’t exactly think the 7 is going to suck. I think the Apple Upgrade Program is a definite incentive to upgrade when people otherwise might not have bothered. Because under the program you have nothing to lose; you don’t have to weigh whether that specific phone is worth the money.
I’ll be selling my iPhone 6, which I bought outright originally, and getting on an upgrade program for the first time when I get the 7. Actually debating whether I should use Apple’s, or just use the T-Mobile Jump upgrade program.
Always do the upgrade program from Apple it’s always better to buy from the manufacturer directly unless T-Mobile is offering some deal. In general buying from the carrier just locks you into staying with them for 2 years even if it’s contract free and the T-Mobile iPhone won’t be unlocked. I love T-Mobile and always buy from Apple. Btw, Happy T-Mobile Tuesday :)
Good advice! That’s true, I don’t really want to lock myself in with the provider, even though I love T-Mobile too. And I’d rather have AppleCare than T-Mobile’s insurance.
It’s kind of pointless to say whether or not you’re going to upgrade until you SEE the thing, isn’t it?
I’m due but definitely not upgrading. Not enough new inside or out (based on rumours) over what I have, for what it’ll cost me.
No headphone connector, no upgrade–just that simple.
Sure there’s a headphone connector. It’s the lightning port. I’ve seen reports that Apple will also make an adapter for those who want to keep using their old 1/8″ audio jacks.
And how does one go about charging and listening to music at the same time?
Adapter? Don’t really get the bfg.
One shouldn’t have to carry around an adapter just to listen and charge at the same time. Thats moving backwards
I don’t want to have to use an adapter, one more thing to not have available when I need it. The lightning port is Apple proprietary so it will not be universal. If the connector was USB-C instead of lightning the industry could rally around it. I would also miss the must switch. The options include Android and I hate that option.
There will be no headphone jack going forward, so you need formulate your long-term plan.
I think since Apple pushes their design philosophy so heavily, people expect a different design every two years at the very least.
People out there that say ‘the iPhone 7 will suck if the design is the same’ are just not thinking it through.
I think the internals are most important, followed by the controls, including the Home button design. The other side to it is iOS. iOS has to be able to leverage the hardware.
Always! iPhone forever. Shut up and take my money.
In my country people who are on contracts get the phone essentially free so everyone always upgrades because well why not?
PS your pages load so slow on mobile because it is an endless pit of a page that continues to show more articles. If you’re wondering why so few people comment well there’s your reason. It took 5 minutes just to load this.
I love these random numbers that people come up with.