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A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote.

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Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event. According to the data, 68.3% of current iPhone users intend to purchase an iPhone 17 model at launch, marking an increase from 61.9% recorded ahead of the iPhone 16 launch in 2024.

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models are expected to dominate early sales, accounting for 38.1% of planned upgrades. The standard iPhone 17 is the choice for 16.7% of respondents, while 13.5% expressed interest in the all-new iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to feature an ultra-thin design. Only 3.3% of respondents indicated they are holding out specifically for a foldable iPhone, which Apple has yet to release.

The survey highlights that 72.9% of users feel more satisfied with their iPhone today than in previous years, but 27.1% said they believe Apple has "lost its edge" compared to rival smartphone makers.

Battery life emerged as the most important upgrade driver, with 53.% of respondents citing it as their top reason for upgrading. Other motivating factors included new designs and features (36.2%), display improvements (34.3%), camera upgrades (28.1%), and AI and software enhancements (7.1%).

Price remains the primary deterrent, with 68.9% of users listing cost as the main reason for not upgrading. Satisfaction with existing devices is also a significant factor, with 71.7% stating they are content with their current iPhone. A smaller share of users cited interest in foldables (7.5%), discomfort with eSIM (6.6%), or interest in switching to Android (5.3%) as reasons for holding off.

Foldables from Samsung and Google are emerging as a competitive threat. If Apple does not release a foldable iPhone by 2026, 20.1% of respondents say they would consider switching to Samsung, and 10.2% to Google. Brand loyalty remains high, with 69.6% of respondents stating they plan to stay with Apple regardless of competing products.

When asked to choose between device thinness and battery capacity, 47.5% of respondents said they would accept a shorter battery life in exchange for a thinner design. Meanwhile, 29.7% said they are not interested in ultra-thin phones at all.

44% of iPhone users said they view Apple Intelligence as a very important feature. Another 33% said AI does not matter to them. When asked which company leads in AI, 44% named Apple, while both Samsung and Google were selected by 6.6% of respondents. Ten percent of users said no brand currently leads in the AI space.

36.8% of users would delay upgrading if prices rise significantly, while 29.2% said they would decide based on the size of the increase. Only 34% said they would proceed with their purchase regardless.

The survey was conducted using an online survey platform, with responses collected in August 2025 from a sample of over 2,000 U.S. adults who currently own an iPhone. The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be announced on Tuesday, September 9.

Article Link: Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17
 
How quickly plans change, if the new dongle doesn't live up to the hype or whatever. Yeah, 70% of the 2000 might think they'll upgrade, but I'd be shocked if 40% did, especially at release, unless there are 2000 early adopters who have ot have it or they feel they'll use some cred with the internet.
 
Out of 10 friends not one was even aware of the new phone let alone plan to upgrade… Apple has fell from grace and the disparity gets wider each year. Siri is a joke and prices are expected to rise with Trump in office. Let’s face it Apple has lost is appeal. Only thing keeping it up is the monolithic hold it has from legacy products and brand loyalty. Newer customers are less likely to join as competition ups the ante
 
100% of people who expressed an interest in upgrading their phones said that they were interested in buying a new phone to replace their old phone.

In reality, I honestly do not believe that 70% of iPhone owners around the world are going to buy a phone from the iPhone 17 range.

I'd want to know more about how SellCell selected these 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users, and exactly what questions they were asked in the survey.

Were they self-selecting? Did they enter the survey by clicking on a link from, say, sites advertising or promoting iPhone 17 or accessories? Did the survey ad / link / pop up say something like "Are you going to upgrade to an iPhone 17? If so, please take part in our survey....."

100% of people waiting in line in MacDonalds want to eat or drink something. That does not mean 100% of all people want to eat or drink.
 
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I agree with the others suspecting they included mostly respondents already leaning towards upgrading. Anecdotally, my friend smashed the back glass of his 13 Pro so will be getting a 17 Pro this cycle. Since the feature change is super slow now because it's a mature product line, he wouldn't have normally upgraded this cycle. I don't expect to upgrade from my 14 Pro either. I had every phone from the OG to the XS because I enjoyed getting new features every time. I'm ok with chilling for now. There are very few things that come to mind that I could do on a 17 that I can't do on a 14. I'm a little tempted by the new shiny, but I know it's just empty calories. Still, I'll wait to see what new wonders they promise at the announcement event.
 
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