A survey conducted by Reviews.org asked 1,000 American adults about their phone preferences.
Every year, phone manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google release new versions of their flagship devices. With all the chatter about advanced displays, boosted camera specs, and AI capabilities inundating social media newsfeeds, it can seem like leveling up your smartphone is the trendy thing to do. But how often do Americans actually upgrade their phones?
Reviews.org sought to find out. After surveying 1,000 U.S. adults about their cell phones, the publication gathered the following insights:
- The average American keeps their phone for nearly two years and five months.
- Americans pay $634.35 for their phone on average–significantly less the cost of the most premium smartphones
- Android customers make up 52% of users
- The most commonly owned iPhone model is the iPhone 13.
- The average user says they’ve kept their current phone for 22 months
- The average user wants to upgrade their phone in 16 months
- Twenty-nine percent intend on upgrading their phone in the next 6 to 12 months.
But why do Americans get new phones? Nearly 13% of respondents say they want to replace their phone because it’s broken or lost, but it’s not the most common reason. The three most popular reasons include: Faster performance (22%), followed by battery issues (18%), and wanting new features (13%).
While wanting new features is a matter of individual preference, factors like slowed performance and battery issues are often unavoidable. A smartphone battery only lasts for two to three years, since the phone’s capacity to hold a charge reduces over time as a result of physical and chemical changes in the battery.
