iPhone Users Hold Onto Their Devices Longer: Upgrade Trend Shifts

Friday, 25 July 2025 19:57

Apple's latest iPhone series is packed with enticing features, but users in the U.S. are holding onto their older iPhones for longer. This shift in upgrade behavior is driven by factors such as device age and condition, highlighting a changing priority among iPhone owners.

illustration iPhone Upgrade © copyright Anna Shvets - Pexels

Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 series on September 9th, 2024, boasting a range of impressive new features, including camera enhancements, improved battery life, and advanced AI capabilities. While these updates promise a compelling user experience, they haven't sparked an immediate urge for users to upgrade their devices.

Holding Onto Old iPhones

In the United States, many Apple fans are seemingly content with their existing iPhones, showing no rush to replace them. Data from market research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) reveals a notable shift in user behavior: people are holding onto their iPhones for longer periods.

The percentage of iPhone users who own their devices for two to three years or more has risen to 34%, compared to 31% in 2020. This upward trend extends to the group keeping their iPhones for two years but less than three, reaching 33% in 2024, an increase from 30% in 2020. In contrast, the percentage of users upgrading within one to two years has declined from 28% in 2020 to 25% in 2024. Furthermore, the number of users upgrading annually has dropped dramatically, settling at just 8% in 2024.

Shifting Motivations for Upgrades

The factors driving iPhone purchases have also undergone a transformation. In the past, many individuals upgraded for new features. However, a recent survey indicates that the majority of iPhone users (approximately 75%) replace their phones due to issues such as their old devices being outdated, lost, damaged, or stolen.

Other common reasons include declining performance, malfunctioning batteries, or physical damage. Only about 18% of users cited new features as the primary motivation for upgrading.

This emerging trend suggests that iPhone users are choosing to stick with their devices for longer periods, emphasizing that the age and condition of their devices are now the most crucial factors influencing their decision to upgrade.

Related Articles

Apple's Q4 Earnings: iPhone 16 Soars, iOS 18.1 Update Adoption Booms
iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Slim Model, Larger Displays, and Powerful A19 Chip
iPhone 16 Touchscreen Glitch: Software Bug Causes Unresponsive Touch Issues
AI: Empowering Programmers, Not Replacing Them
AI-Powered Chatbots: Revolutionizing Customer Service and Beyond
iOS 18 is Here: Check if Your iPhone is Eligible for the Update
Fire at Tata Electronics Factory Disrupts iPhone Production in India
Intel's Struggles: Spin-off, Layoffs, and a Fight for Relevance
iOS 18's Game Changer: Eye Tracking Features Unveiled for Accessibility
Bing Generative: Microsoft's New AI-Powered Search Engine
The Internet of Things: Revolutionizing Our World, One Device at a Time
iPhone Battery Life: When to Replace and How to Check Battery Health