Although the iPhone is the preferred terminal for young people, according to studies carried out on American teenagers, the iPhone 16 has lost interest. For this reason, Apple plans to give it a push to regain its fame and put the device at the service of youth.
As an argument to achieve this goal, the Californian company has an ace up its sleeve: Apple Intelligencewhich will soon arrive on the iPhone 16 and will revolutionize the user experience. However, it must be remembered that these long-awaited features will not arrive in Spain until 2025.
Fewer young people want to upgrade to the iPhone 16
The report, prepared by Piper Sandler in its fall 2024 survey, reveals that although 87% of teenagers in the US own an iPhone and 88% plan for their next smartphone to also be from Apple, the number of young people interested in upgrading to the iPhone 16 has experienced a slight drop. Only 22% of respondents plan to change their phone in the fall or winter, compared to 23% who planned to do so with the iPhone 15 last year and 24% with the iPhone 14 in 2022.
This decline, while not dramatic, in fact quite slight, reflects a shift in the tendency of teens to keep their iPhones longer before making the jump to a new model. The average generation between current devices and the iPhone 16 is now three generations, an increase from 2.5 generations two years ago. This suggests that young people are extending useful life of their devices, perhaps waiting for more significant advances in future versions, which are really worth it enough to make the leap to the new terminal.
Despite this slight drop in purchase intention for the iPhone 16, the arrival of Apple Intelligence could be the key factor in turning the tables. According to the survey, nearly 30% of teens said they plan to upgrade their devices because of this new suite of AI features, which Apple will launch later this year.
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s weapon
Apple Intelligence promises to revolutionize the way users interact with their devices, improving both performance and personalization. For many, this evolution could be the incentive they needed to leave their older models behind and go for the latest generation of iPhone. In fact, advanced AI technology is likely to make teens rethink upgrading in the coming months.
The iPhone remains the favorite device among teenagers, but other Apple products are also very popular. The AirPods stand outwith 70% of young people currently owning a pair of them, and 25% planning to buy new ones in the coming months. Additionally, 30% of teenagers say they have an iPad or an Apple Watch. However, Apple services such as Apple TV+ are not as successful, with only 10% usage among teenagers, while Apple Music maintains a stable presence with a third of users.
