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iPhone Remains Popular With Teens as iPad Interest Plateaus

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple's iPhone continues to grow in popularity with U.S. teenagers, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster's latest semiannual teen survey [PDF], which asked 7,500 teens about their device preferences. 61 percent of teens now own an iPhone, compared to 55 percent from a survey conducted in October 2013 and 40 percent in the fall of 2012.

67 percent of teens expect their next phone to be an iPhone, up slightly from October's survey. When it comes to tablets, 60 percent of teens own one, up from 56 percent in the fall. 66 percent of those own an iPad (55% full-sized, 11% mini), which is down slightly from 68 percent, with ownership shifting further towards the mini. 18 percent of teens who don't own a tablet expect to buy one in the next sixth months and of those prospective buyers, 66 percent plan to choose an iPad.

teensurveypiperjaffray.png
The Spring 2014 survey also covered prospective teen interest in an Apple smart watch, which the company is said to be developing. Of the 7,500 teenagers surveyed, six percent currently own a smart watch and 17 percent of teens would buy an iWatch if Apple were to sell it for $350 or less.
The bigger takeaway from our survey is that 17% of teens suggested they would be interested in an iWatch, which we believe is an indication of consumer thirst for not only the iWatch specifically, but the new product categories that have been promised by Apple.
Click to expand...
In the past, Samsung has attempted to position its Galaxy phones as the choice for teenagers by portraying the iPhone as "uncool," but this marketing tactic appears to be largely unsuccessful given the segment's growing interest in Apple products.

Despite the iPhone's popularity, the iPad has become slightly less popular with teenagers as competitors like Google and Kindle have released more affordable options. Android tablets in particular have seen consistent growth among teens, even after the launch of the Retina iPad mini and the thinner and lighter iPad Air.

Article Link: iPhone Remains Popular With Teens as iPad Interest Plateaus
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/08/iphone-still-popular-with-teens/
macduke

macduke

macrumors G5
Jun 27, 2007
13,128
19,646
But...but...but all the Samsung commercials say iPhones are for old people!
 
R

Razeus

macrumors 603
Jul 11, 2008
5,348
2,030
I sometimes question why I have an iPad. Probably why I haven't bought the iPad Air. The iPad 4th gen is good enough and the apps aren't going to do anything different with the Air.
 
DipDog3

DipDog3

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2002
1,191
812
The reason is probably because the iPhone is subsidized & the iPad is not.

Parents probably don't mind paying $100-200 for a kid's iPhone (since all subsidized phones cost about the same), but they will balk at spending $500 for an iPad when other tablets are much cheaper.
 
inkswamp

inkswamp

macrumors 68030
Jan 26, 2003
2,953
1,278
This is interesting especially in light of all those consumer surveys from a couple years ago that showed increasing numbers of Android users planning to buy iPhones and few going the other way.

I've joked that dealing with the Android clusterf*** for 2 years is enough to make anyone an iPhone user, but I'm starting to think that's what is actually happening. I watched it happen with my wife and my daughter, both of whom loved their Android phones at first, but grew weary of its eccentricities after 6 months and switched to iPhones. I know others who have done the same. I know of nobody who grew to hate their iPhone and jumped to Android.

It's anecdotal, I know, but it does fall in line with the consumer surveys from the last few years.
 
R

Razeus

macrumors 603
Jul 11, 2008
5,348
2,030
DipDog3 said:
The reason is probably because the iPhone is subsidized & the iPad is not.

Parents probably don't mind paying $100-200 for a kid's iPhone (since all subsidized phones cost about the same), but they will balk at spending $500 for an iPad when other tablets are much cheaper.
Click to expand...

Parents are in for a rude awakening once they discover cell phone companies are going away from this and you're paying for your phone outright.
 
S

samuelwong

macrumors newbie
Sep 10, 2013
2
0
Cost is an issue

Tablet is not as 'essential' as phone for the latter is somehow a real need for a fast-paced and busy schedule family. No parent will find it unnecessary to locate their youthful kids precisely while allowing them to have active and social lifestyle.
As middle-aged man, I like iPad in terms of its integration with iPhone and Macbook which is a real convenience to a working professional. I don't have to figure out so many variations of apps as in Android world.
 
chrisbru

chrisbru

macrumors 6502a
May 8, 2008
809
169
Austin, TX
Razeus said:
Parents are in for a rude awakening once they discover cell phone companies are going away from this and you're paying for your phone outright.
Click to expand...

No they aren't. Phone companies are moving towards installment plans. So it will just be another monthly fee along with the bill.
 
A

Amplelink

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2012
934
392
DipDog3 said:
The reason is probably because the iPhone is subsidized & the iPad is not.

Parents probably don't mind paying $100-200 for a kid's iPhone (since all subsidized phones cost about the same), but they will balk at spending $500 for an iPad when other tablets are much cheaper.
Click to expand...

This study asks about device preferences. Why would subsidies come into play?
 
A

abhishake

macrumors regular
Jul 14, 2005
155
16
inkswamp said:
I've joked that dealing with the Android clusterf*** for 2 years is enough to make anyone an iPhone user, but I'm starting to think that's what is actually happening. I watched it happen with my wife and my daughter, both of whom loved their Android phones at first, but grew weary of its eccentricities after 6 months and switched to iPhones. I know others who have done the same. I know of nobody who grew to hate their iPhone and jumped to Android.

It's anecdotal, I know, but it does fall in line with the consumer surveys from the last few years.
Click to expand...

I've had the iPhone since the very first day back in '07 when it came out for $500 and have had every single iteration since. I'm about to switch to Android. I've wanted to for a while, but I'm a sucker for the ecosystem. Hardware wise Androids are now better - that's a fact. Something we've never really dealt with since Apple competitors usually just suck it up.

Having said that - I will be converting to a Nexus if the iPhone 6 doesn't have a bigger screen. The iPad Air is the best tablet out there, but the phone simply sucks.
 
The Doctor11

The Doctor11

macrumors 603
Dec 15, 2013
5,974
1,406
New York
Well I'm a teen so I guess I'll take the survey.
I...
Own an iPhone
Own an iPad
Would love to buy an iWatch.

And the percentage of teens that are apple fanboys is 0.00001. I'm sorta the only one in the category.

----------
macduke said:
But...but...but all the Samsung commercials say iPhones are for old people!
Click to expand...

Samsungs to stupid to see that I guess. Do they make glasses?

----------
DipDog3 said:
The reason is probably because the iPhone is subsidized & the iPad is not.

Parents probably don't mind paying $100-200 for a kid's iPhone (since all subsidized phones cost about the same), but they will balk at spending $500 for an iPad when other tablets are much cheaper.
Click to expand...

Yeah but have you ever seen little kids with tablets. There's a ton of little kids with iPad mini's not iPods.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TechGod

TechGod

macrumors 68040
Feb 25, 2014
3,268
1,121
New Zealand
DipDog3 said:
The reason is probably because the iPhone is subsidized & the iPad is not.

Parents probably don't mind paying $100-200 for a kid's iPhone (since all subsidized phones cost about the same), but they will balk at spending $500 for an iPad when other tablets are much cheaper.
Click to expand...
But it's more expensive to be on contract... are you going to just forget the contracts insane pricing?
 
3

3282868

macrumors 603
Jan 8, 2009
5,281
0
Wait, I thought we were in a "post-PC era" of tablets. ;)

The Mac Pro sells better than expected, and iPad's are plateauing. Could be for any reason, but at least the new Mac Pro has shown professionals and enthusiasts still need and want a desktop system (not an all-in-one).
 
mw360

mw360

macrumors 68020
Aug 15, 2010
2,032
2,395
iPhone owners chart is absolute percentages (i.e. all teenagers) but iPad figures are relative (all tablet owners). iPad chart therefore omits overall tablet sales growth where iPhone does not. Misleading.

Also figures in the article for tablet sales 60% up from 56% are very close to the iPhone increases shown in the chart (looks like 61% up from 55%), so the iPad is growing almost as fast as the iPhone. That's not a plateau. Boring, but true.
 
Last edited:
T

Taipan

macrumors 6502a
Jun 23, 2003
604
496
If 70% of non tablet owners intend to buy an iPad, shouldn't the number of iPad owners be increasing? I can"t believe that there are as much leaving the iPad.
OK, they didn't tell WHEN they intend to buy...
 
Y

Yelmurc

macrumors regular
Apr 16, 2008
219
58
Houston TX
Devices and eco-systems are only as popular as the apps they use. I keep thinking to myself if Apple can get an amazing game or some piece of software that makes people want to buy an iPad they'd see large growth again. Having the hardware is not enough. If the only compete on standard features they won't keep the lead.
 
M

malexandria

Suspended
Mar 25, 2009
971
427
Surface

I've been seeing more and more people with Surfaces at Business Conferences lately. And whenever I go to the mall a lot of folks seem excited about the Surface in the MS Store.
 
senseless

senseless

macrumors 68000
Apr 23, 2008
1,885
257
Pennsylvania, USA
61% of teens own an iPhone, so the the other 39% own Androids and 100% of US teens now own a smartphone with a data plan payment? Something is obviously askew.
 
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