It’s no surprise to hear that iPhones are popular, but arguably they go beyond mere popularity, with 28% of smartphone users planning to upgrade to one of the latest Apple handsets when they’re able, according to new research conducted by Insurance2Go.
Specifically, they plan to upgrade to an iPhone 7, iPhone 8 or iPhone X (or presumably an iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 8 Plus, though the research doesn’t mention them by name). 12% of these people said they plan to get an iPhone X specifically, despite its near £1000 price tag.
So why the love of the iPhone X?
Of course, not everyone is convinced, with 31% of overall respondents saying they would choose an Android handset for their next phone, while the same percentage isn’t sure what they’ll do when they’re out of contract and 10% plan to end their contract altogether.
Reasons given for not buying an iPhone X include, of course, the price, with 57% saying it’s too expensive, and 19% saying they don’t think it’s an improvement over previous models.
The upshot is that Android remains more popular than iOS, but that’s the whole of Android, which is made up of dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of handsets, while almost the same number of people plan to buy one of several Apple handsets.
In reality, most of those buying Android are probably buying Samsung, so it could be that Samsung is approaching Apple’s popularity while the rest of Android struggles. The research doesn’t split up the Android figures, but does touch on this, with Gary Beeston, Marketing and Sales Director of Insurance2go saying:
“Although we’ve seen the likes of Samsung challenge Apple for the top spot over the past few years, the nation’s brand loyalty to Apple products is clear - branching out to tech all around the home, not just smartphones.”
“The gap between the brands is slowly closing, though, so it will be exciting to see what other surprises Apple has in store for us in order to keep its loyal following happy.”
And if the smartphone landscape really can be boiled down to a battle between these two brands it’s no surprise. Apple’s phones are known for their polish and in the case of the iPhone X have finally got the futuristic overhaul many users have likely been waiting for, while Samsung in recent years has rivalled Apple’s sense of design and top-end components, while continually innovating with the likes of curved displays.
There are other compelling options out there – such as the new Razer Phone. But by and large we don’t see many buyers shifting away from the familiar, quality experiences offered by these big names. In fact, the early success of the iPhone X shows that even rising prices can’t push buyers away.
Many thanks to Insurance2Go for the heads up on their findings.
