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U.S. iPhone ownership reaches an all-time high

Apple currently has more iPhone users in the U.S. than at any point in history, and it’s been the iPhone 7 models driving its most recent growth push, according to comScore, which “measures the digital world.” As reported in the research group’s 2017 U.S. Cross-Platform Future in Focus report, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus accounted for 15% of the 85.8 million U.S. iPhone owners ages 13-and-older in quarter four of 2016.

Before the release of the iPhone 7 models in September, the iPhone 6 device family had continued to rapidly expand its footprint. According to comScore, there are still nearly 50 million iPhone 6 users, in addition to the more than 20 million iPhone owners who have a 5 model or earlier. These 70 million collectively represent a huge base of users who are ripe for an upgrade cycle later this year when the iPhone 8 is expected to be released.

Because expectations are so high with this upcoming iPhone 8 upgrade cycle, many news outlets and analysts are referring to it as a “supercycle.” The rationale behind these expectations is that the release of the iPhone 6 led to a boom in Apple’s iPhone installed base. 

Now many of those device owners are prime for an upgrade after 2+ years with the iPhone 6 or earlier models. Several features such as edge-to-edge display, a faster processor and wireless charging have all been rumored for the iPhone 8, giving users of older iPhones a compelling reason to upgrade once this new version is released, according to comScore.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.