The next iteration of the iPhone is set to be launched in the autumn. Will the new device continue to be a cash cow for Apple, or is the lack of true innovation with smartphone technology leading more people to question why they should bother with an expensive ‘upgrade’?
A new survey finds that only 14.1 percent of current iPhone owners intend to upgrade to the iPhone 14.This is a drop from the 30 percent who said they intended to purchase the iPhone 13 (leading up to the September 2021 launch of this version of the ubiquitous handset).
The thirteenth version was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. These issues impacted upon the supply chain as well as leading to other logistics issues. The delay did not seem to whet the appetite of the populace, for sales overall have not been as strong as anticipated.
The survey comes from the company SellCell, who surveyed 19,586 smartphone owners living in the U.S. The survey population was broken down into 9,793 iPhone owners and 9,793 Android owners.
The new features that the iPhone 14 will have are not yet announced. The rumour mill suggests punch-hole cameras, flush rear-face cameras, a change in appearance, and bigger battery capacity. None of these are likely to set the technology world ablaze, unless the battery life is significantly better.
There is also said to be so-termed ‘old-school’ iPhone 4 flat edges reappearing, along with the titanium strip. The top range version is likely to have an A16 chip and 48 MP sensor. Four new iPhone 14 models are likely to appear in total, with the Pro and Pro Max variants having the widest array of new features.
Another factor leading to suppressed consumers interest might relate to the delayed launch of the iPhone 13 and a combination of upgrade fatigue and concerns about personal spending during the global economic crisis.
Furthermore, the delays with iPhone 13 production have meant that many people who wanted the Apple device had to wait until 2022 to get hold of one. A further change within the same year might be too much, too soon.
There is some good news for Apple within the survey figures. This is where 13.2 percent of existing Android have said they would consider switching to the iPhone 14. Perhaps this is the cohort that Apple’s advertising machine needs to target? This certainly represents a considerable chunk of the Android consumer base, should this proportion be extrapolated to the wider market.
