Survey: 35% of U.S. Consumers Planning to Purchase Next-Generation iPhone

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, shopping comparison site PriceGrabber released the results of a survey of nearly 3,000 U.S. online consumers conducted earlier this month, revealing that 35% of respondents intend to purchase the next-generation iPhone. The strong consumer interest comes even as Apple has to yet announce or even acknowledge such a device and with rumors offering conflicting information on what users can expect from the next-generation iPhone.

Anticipation in the consumer electronics world is soaring for the launch of Apple's iPhone 5, which is rumored to be hitting store shelves this fall. PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, just released the results of its iPhone 5 survey, revealing that 35 percent of consumers plan to purchase the latest iPhone upon its release. Of these respondents, 51 percent indicated that they will buy the smartphone within the first year of release, 30 percent will purchase it before the end of 2011, 14 percent will buy it within the first month, and 7 percent will buy it within the first week. Conducted from July 1-11, 2011, the survey includes responses from 2,852 U.S. online consumers.

Apple leads the smartphone pack among the surveyed customers, with 48% of respondents stating that they "prefer" iOS and Android coming in at a distant second place with 19%.




For the next-generation iPhone, consumers most frequently cited improved battery life as a key feature they'd like to see, with 59% of respondents selecting the option in the survey. Measuring in close behind at 56% was a lower price point. Other popular desired features include a larger screen and an improved camera.

Interestingly, 46% of respondents indicated that "4G" compatibility is an important feature for the next iPhone, even with a separate survey recently revealing that one-third of current iPhone users mistakenly think that they already have 4G compatibility. The "4G" marketing term has come to embrace both HSPA+ and LTE network standards, and while the next-generation iPhone is expected to feature HSPA+ compatibility, Apple has been said to be holding off on LTE compatibility until more appropriate chips are available.

Article Link: Survey: 35% of U.S. Consumers Planning to Purchase Next-Generation iPhone

[Mattsasa]

Well, I will be buying it

[troop231]

I'm in that 35% somewhere.

[Garrod]

Originally Posted by Mattsasa

Well, I will be buying it

I most certainly won't.

[res1233]

It makes sense. The fact that iOS is managing to stay competitive with Android, while also costing the consumer a good $100-$200 subsidized, means that people REALLY like iOS. If there was ever a lower priced model subsidized to free, I don't think Android could compete. Many people buy Android for the sole fact that it's a free phone.

[bbplayer5]

no LTE.... ugh... that hurts.

[WiiDSmoker]

Originally Posted by res1233

Many people buy Android for the sole fact that it's a free phone.

This is not true.

[w00t951]

Hope is not lost for America...

[GenesisST]

Well, I'm not in that 35%, but only because I'm not in the U.S.

I think the iPhone 5 would be a good time to replace my 3GS. But not at any cost, I would love a 64GB phone. Yes, I know iCloud, yadda yadda yadda, but I doubt music will make it to iCloud for Canada and I like carrying lots of music.

Plus I intend on dropping data when my contract expires, I barely use it. Mostly for maps, but I can get day or week passes when I need it.

[minderbinder106]

How did you make the leap from 35% of people who visited pricegrabber and agreed to take a survey said they would buy an iPhone 5 to 35% of American consumers will buy the iPhone 5 sight unseen?

[res1233]

Originally Posted by WiiDSmoker

This is not true.

Actually, it is true. Not everyone buys android because it's free, but many people do. I shouldn't have said "sole fact" though. It's a decent OS too, which is why people will buy it over iOS, but many of those people would rather get iPhones.

[mbhebsgaard]

I would like 4G even though I don't know what it is

[MacFreak2011]

Originally Posted by minderbinder106

How did you make the leap from 35% of people who visited pricegrabber and agreed to take a survey said they would buy an iPhone 5 to 35% of American consumers will buy the iPhone 5 sight unseen?

They didn't say it was only targeting to pricegrabber customers. It's a survey they conducted, probably using an outside firm that specializes in giving surveys to consumers. We've been learning about companies that do this in my marketing research class

[rwilliams]

Not me. I will hold onto the iPhone 4 for another year and grab next year's version when my contract runs out.

[Eddyisgreat]

AT&T just recently bumped up my full subsidy date from Feb 2012 to Nov 2011, so i'm back in the running . iP4 -> iPx!

[nnoble]

The USA is bankrupt. Use the cash to pay off the national debt.

[Shrink]

Originally Posted by rwilliams

Not me. I will hold onto the iPhone 4 for another year and grab next year's version when my contract runs out.

Me, too.

No way will I buy the phone unsubsidized

[ChrisTX]

Originally Posted by bbplayer5

no LTE.... ugh... that hurts.

Im on wifi most of the time, so lte isn't all that necessary.

[Ugg]

Originally Posted by minderbinder106

How did you make the leap from 35% of people who visited pricegrabber and agreed to take a survey said they would buy an iPhone 5 to 35% of American consumers will buy the iPhone 5 sight unseen?

You have a very good point. I think it should read, "35% of people in the market for a smartphone, will buy the next gen iPhone."

[tirk]

Originally Posted by mbhebsgaard

I would like 4G even though I don't know what it is

It's a scam to allow service providers to charge more. As data rates are currently often limited by the providers infrastructure, providing a bigger pipe to the user will do nothing unless the providers invest in infrastructure too.

Which they won't, as that doesn't look so good on adverts.

[Tastydirt]

People should remember that Apple doesn't base its design decisions on "consumer surveys" or "market research".

Most consumers have no idea what they want, and that is why I'm one of their customers.

[AppleDroid]

Originally Posted by ChrisTX

Im on wifi most of the time, so lte isn't all that necessary.

Plus LTE/WiMAX eat battery like crazy in their current form. My EVO is useless with 4G (WiMAX) turned on.

Just bring the iPhone to Sprint already!

[acidfast7]

No 4G/LTE is a deal-breaker for most people that buy phones unsubsidized.

Seriously, I've had 50Mb/s 4G/LTE since December 2009. And it's STILL not in a new Apple phone.

That's why Apple will always lose global market share to Samsung/HTC. In addition to the previous no-unsubsidized crap from previous iPhones.

[seinman]

Originally Posted by ChrisTX

Im on wifi most of the time, so lte isn't all that necessary.

Well that's great for you, but I'm hardly ever on wifi when I'm using my phone for data. I'm either at work (wifi only on one floor out of 24, and it isn't my floor) or out and about. At home, I use my laptop for web browsing. LTE isn't a deal-breaker for me, but I do admit, it would be very nice to have.

[erratikmind]

I can't wait until the next iPhone is available. My original iPhone is not long for this world.