iPhone and iPad Remain Popular With Teens, Interest in Apple Watch Tepid Ahead of Unveiling

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone continues to grow in popularity with U.S. teenagers, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster's latest semiannual teen survey, which asked approximately 7,200 teens with an average age of 16 years about their device usage habits and future buying plans.

67 percent of surveyed teens owned an iPhone, compared to 61 percent in the Spring survey, and 73 percent of teens expect their next phone to be an iPhone. Much of Apple's gains in ownership came from Android, which lost five percentage points over the last several months. iPhone usage among teens may jump significantly in the next few months, as the survey was conducted just before the introduction of the larger-screened iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

While iPad ownership remained high at 66 percent, there was no growth compared to the Spring survey. Android tablets also saw ownership numbers drop, and of customers planning to buy a tablet in the next six months, 60 percent plan to choose an iPad Air or iPad mini.

As for the upcoming Apple Watch, interest among teenagers remains relatively low. Only 16 percent of teens said they would be interested in purchasing an Apple Watch for $350, down slightly from the Spring survey where 17 percent expressed interest. Munster's survey was, however, conducted before the Apple Watch was announced, so interest numbers may shift in the next Spring survey.

Younger customers have always been important to Apple as it gives the company a chance to create lifelong customers. Apple's recent acquisition of Beats Electronics, for example, may have partially taken place as an effort to remain relevant among teenage users. In a survey of 10,000 students, a quarter believed the deal would make Apple more "cool," while 50 percent believed the acquisition would increase Apple's popularity among students.

Article Link: iPhone and iPad Remain Popular With Teens, Interest in Apple Watch Tepid Ahead of Unveiling

 

[farewelwilliams]

they also like gersploosh

 

[mtneer]

Apple needs to highlight more of how the watch can currently enhance people's lifestyle. There is a lot of possibility, but much more needs to be fleshed out.

 

[bpeeps]

While everyone wants a phone with faster internals and longer battery, the same can't be said for the iPad. While faster, thinner, longer everything is great, it's time to overhaul the iPad and offer us something new software/productivity wise.

 

[akuma13]

The fact that you have to pair it with an iPhone nearby is not going to go well.

 

[jlake02]

My kids aren't quite in their teens yet and already all of their friends want iPhones. It's the phone to have.. even at younger ages.

 

[Darkashnet]

My 16 year old sister's iPhone 5 contract just ran out, she was going to get the iPhone 6 for the bigger screen, but thought it was really ugly. Ended up getting a Sony Xperia. Her friends are doing the same. (Small minority I know, but I was a little shocked when she told me this.)

 

[Komrad808]

Teenagers would rather buy Beats Headphones then a $350 Watch.

I still think once people get more familiar with the Watch, more intrest will rise.

 

[slffl]

Looks like it's INCREASING in popularity to me.

RIP MacRumors. Liked you better before you were purchased by Samsung.

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The fact that you have to pair it with an iPhone nearby is not going to go well.

You don't HAVE to!!!

And yes it's going to go well. You can't realistically expect to put a wifi, LTE, GPS, battery, etc. in a watch size can you? And when it happens, you can bet that American Apple will do it before Korean Samsung.

 

[Erehwonbr]

Looks like it's INCREASING in popularity to me.

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17% in Spring '14, 16% in Fall of '14.

That, my friend, is what we call a decrease.

 

[androidlag]

Paiiiiiiiiiiiid for by samguns!

 

[Rogifan]

Does anyone really care about Gene Munster surveys?

 

[lewismayell]

I want an Apple Watch, dunno how much of a **** I would look though, I don't like showing off, but I can't help but feel thats what people would think if I was wearing one

 

[RockSpider]

Does anyone really care about Gene Munster surveys?

If Apple was falling off a cliff he'd still have something positive to say about it.

 

[TheKrs1]

That 16% jump from nothing in the Microsoft category for "planning on buying a new tablet". Can't ignore that.

 

[RockSpider]

Teenagers would rather buy Beats Headphones then a $350 Watch.

I still think once people get more familiar with the Watch, more intrest will rise.

Be sure to get back to us when you've splashed out the money on your new iWatch. You can tell us about all the problems so we dont have to spend the money.

 

[georgB]

Dick Tracy

I'm not too surprised that youngsters don't crave an iWatch. So far, it doesn't have (enough?) must-have cool features for them - which is not to say I know what that'd be. My guess is that those who are most enthusiastic are older types, like me, of the Dick Tracy generation, who felt that the Wrist Radio Watch was the cat's pyjamas. Unfortunately, we'll probably not be big buyers of the watch, either, because you can't, so far, call, let alone FaceTime, over it. But when that arrives ...

 

[Lepton]

Good. More of a chance for me to be able to pick up a watch on day one.

 

[Ichabod.]

Few teens probably even wear watches.

 

[RockSpider]

That 16% jump from nothing in the Microsoft category for "planning on buying a new tablet". Can't ignore that.

Also own a tablet computer, Windows 10%, cant ignore that either. I've got both iPad Air and original Surface, the Surface is now running faster than my iPad due to IOS 8.

 

[Parasprite]

Does this mean I'm cool again?

 

[marine0816]

$400 watch that I still need my mega iPhone 6+ to run with? No thank you, I'll peek at the Apple watch 2 when that comes out. Everyone knows that the first generation apple watch is for suckers

 

[McPc]

I'm not too surprised that youngsters don't crave an iWatch. So far, it doesn't have (enough?) must-have cool features for them - which is not to say I know what that'd be. My guess is that those who are most enthusiastic are older types, like me, of the Dick Tracy generation, who felt that the Wrist Radio Watch was the cat's pyjamas. Unfortunately, we'll probably not be big buyers of the watch, either, because you can't, so far, call, let alone FaceTime, over it. But when that arrives ...

I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it.

With Jony Ive and Marc Newsom showing off the watch at Paris Fashion Week I get the feeling Apple is really market focus for the the watch is for adults. I don't think any kids would go for the gold plated version but I could be wrong.

 

[Serban]

an apple watch is a luxury thing, i mean you don't really need it(like you need a phone or mac/pc), you just want it
for those who has already luxury watch will buy an apple watch just for fun or out of curiosity

 

[The Doctor11]

If I took this survey I would half to answer I would not buy and iWatch for $350 because to me knowledge there is no such thing.

But I would really really love me a Apple Watch

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Good. More of a chance for me to be able to pick up a watch on day one.

Yeah because teens have $350 laying around any way