14 DAY TRIAL // The 2018 iPhone generation is projected to be the most successful since the iPhone 6, according to analyst estimates, and now a new survey shows that a significant part of the existing Apple userbase is indeed planning to upgrade.
While it’s too early to tell whether a super-cycle is indeed possible or not, a survey conducted by Loup Ventures reveals that out of 540 US consumers surveyed, 48 percent said they indeed plan to get a new iPhone this year.
This is up from 25 percent a year ago, so the prospects of three new iPhones, out of which one could be more affordable, could convince more customers to upgrade.
However, the analyst firm warns that this is just an estimate and the actual number of customers upgrading may vary, as several factors are involved in making a decision, like the price of the new iPhones.
“This 48% is an outlier, and therefore should be tempered (intent to buy vs. actual purchase conversion varies cycle to cycle), but the survey is nonetheless a positive indicator of upcoming iPhone demand,” the firm says.
More Android switchers
Also interesting is that the number of Android customers who are planning to upgrade to new iPhones has improved from 12 percent a year ago to 19 percent. This means Apple could eat up from Android’s market share across the world, especially if a cheaper iPhone version is indeed released.
“There is greater interest in this upcoming iPhone cycle than we had anticipated,” the survey notes. “iPhone is entering a period of stability (0% to 5% unit growth for the next several years) driven by 805m+ active iPhones with a high (90%) retention rate.”
Apple’s new iPhone unveiling is projected to take place next month, and people familiar with the matter said September 12 is very likely to witness the debut of all three devices. Sales, however, are anticipated to begin in September only for the two OLED versions, while the more affordable LCD model could hit the market in October or early November.
