Survey: 35% of U.S. Consumers Planning to Purchase Next-Generation iPhone

Earlier this week, shopping comparison site PriceGrabber released the results of a survey of nearly 3,000 U.S. online consumers conducted earlier this month, revealing that 35% of respondents intend to purchase the next-generation iPhone. The strong consumer interest comes even as Apple has to yet announce or even acknowledge such a device and with rumors offering conflicting information on what users can expect from the next-generation iPhone.

Anticipation in the consumer electronics world is soaring for the launch of Apple's iPhone 5, which is rumored to be hitting store shelves this fall. PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, just released the results of its iPhone 5 survey, revealing that 35 percent of consumers plan to purchase the latest iPhone upon its release. Of these respondents, 51 percent indicated that they will buy the smartphone within the first year of release, 30 percent will purchase it before the end of 2011, 14 percent will buy it within the first month, and 7 percent will buy it within the first week. Conducted from July 1-11, 2011, the survey includes responses from 2,852 U.S. online consumers.

Apple leads the smartphone pack among the surveyed customers, with 48% of respondents stating that they "prefer" iOS and Android coming in at a distant second place with 19%.

iphone 4 top corner view
For the next-generation iPhone, consumers most frequently cited improved battery life as a key feature they'd like to see, with 59% of respondents selecting the option in the survey. Measuring in close behind at 56% was a lower price point. Other popular desired features include a larger screen and an improved camera.

Interestingly, 46% of respondents indicated that "4G" compatibility is an important feature for the next iPhone, even with a separate survey recently revealing that one-third of current iPhone users mistakenly think that they already have 4G compatibility. The "4G" marketing term has come to embrace both HSPA+ and LTE network standards, and while the next-generation iPhone is expected to feature HSPA+ compatibility, Apple has been said to be holding off on LTE compatibility until more appropriate chips are available.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

minderbinder106 Avatar
161 months ago
Misleading Headline

How did you make the leap from 35% of people who visited pricegrabber and agreed to take a survey said they would buy an iPhone 5 to 35% of American consumers will buy the iPhone 5 sight unseen?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
res1233 Avatar
161 months ago
This is not true.
Actually, it is true. Not everyone buys android because it's free, but many people do. I shouldn't have said "sole fact" though. It's a decent OS too, which is why people will buy it over iOS, but many of those people would rather get iPhones.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nordicappeal Avatar
161 months ago
I would like 4G even though I don't know what it is :)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
benpatient Avatar
161 months ago
Hang on. 35% of Americans?

Only 35% of Americans with cell phones have a smart phone to begin with.

That just doesn't pass the smell test.

First off, ~85% of american Adults have a cell phone right now.

That would mean that more than 40% of those are planning on getting an iPhone 5?!

Right now 25% of smart phones in use are iPhones. That means right now less than 9% of Americans with a cell phone have some form of iPhone.

A huge number, but even if iPhone use among smartphone users doubled, AND smartphone use in general doubled, you still wouldn't get to 35% of Americans using an iPhone, and that assumes that EVERYONE with any previous iPhone would replace it with an iPhone 5.

I know a lot of people with iPhones, but a lot of those are still 3GS models, or even 3G models. One guy in my office still has his original iPhone that he bought on day 1. He is going to get an iPhone4 when the 5 comes out.

That 35% number is just not adding up.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pmz Avatar
161 months ago
No 4G/LTE is a deal-breaker for most people that buy phones unsubsidized.

Seriously, I've had 50Mb/s 4G/LTE since December 2009. And it's STILL not in a new Apple phone. :rolleyes:

That's why Apple will always lose global market share to Samsung/HTC. In addition to the previous no-unsubsidized crap from previous iPhones.

Yea ok, on what planet?

No one cares, sorry. What backwards, unintelligible post.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thelonelylimo Avatar
161 months ago
I wish I could pre-order right now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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