CNET Survey: One Quarter of Smartphone Owners Don't See AI Features as Helpful
Nearly half don't want to pay a subscription fee for AI.
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 6, 2024) — As Apple's annual iPhone event approaches next week, consumers are presented with the choice to purchase a new smartphone or keep the one they have. Enhanced cameras and fresh phone hues are no longer the typical upgrade, as major tech companies are now banking on generative AI to propel smartphones into the next phase of innovation.
A recent CNET survey found that longer battery life, more storage, and camera features are the biggest motivations for individuals looking to upgrade their smartphones. Meanwhile, a quarter of smartphone owners do not find AI features helpful, 45% are reluctant to pay a monthly subscription fee for new AI capabilities on their devices, and 34% have privacy concerns with AI incorporated into their smartphones.
Motivations to upgrade
The biggest motivation for US adult smartphone owners to upgrade their devices is longer battery life (61%), followed by more storage (46%) and better camera features (38%). Camera features are a bigger motivation for Apple users (43%) and Google Pixel users (43%) to upgrade compared to 36% of Samsung users.
Other motivations to upgrade smartphone owners' devices include phone display/screen size (32%), keeping the ecosystem (i.e., iOS to iOS, Android to Android) (24%), a new product release (23%), AI integrations (18%), phone color (10%), changing the ecosystem (9%) and other (11%).
Most US adults who own a smartphone upgrade only whenever their current phone breaks or needs replacing (44%). Three in 10 (30%) upgrade their phone every three years or longer, 18% every two years and only 8% every year. One-third (33%) of iPhone owners only upgrade their devices every three years or longer, more than any other device owner.
AI features
As more Big Tech companies begin to charge for AI services and technology, 45% of smartphone owners are unwilling to pay extra money (i.e. a monthly subscription) for AI features on their phones. One-fourth (25%) do not find AI features helpful and are not keen to see more integrated into their smartphones. The results vary by smartphone type as 12% of Google Pixel owners are willing to pay extra money for AI compared to only 6% of Apple and 7% of Samsung phone owners.
"Consumers already feel overburdened by the many other subscriptions they have across streaming, delivery apps and cloud storage," says CNET Technology Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti. "Having to pay yet another monthly fee can be less than enticing for those who are looking to cut costs – especially if they're not quite sold on the benefits of AI on their phones."
In addition to cost, roughly one-third of smartphone owners flagged privacy as a concern when it comes to using AI on their mobile phones (34%). Boomers (38%) and Millennials (34%) are most concerned about privacy, followed by 33% of Gen X and 29% of Gen Z.
There are various use cases for AI features on smartphones. Gen Z (20%) and Millennials (20%) are the generations most excited about AI capabilities and find them helpful, with 15% of Gen Z and 16% of Millennials using AI on their phone for photo editing, image creation, summarizing or writing text (emails, messages) and 20% of Gen Z and 19% of Millennials regularly using an AI tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini on their smartphones.
Men are more likely to use AI on their mobile devices with 15% of male respondents claiming they regularly use an AI tool like Chat GPT or Google Gemini on their phone compared to 9% of women and 11% of men use AI on their phone for editing, image creation, summarizing or writing text, etc compared to 9% of women.
Google Pixel owners use AI on their phones for photo editing, image creation, summarizing, or writing more than Apple (11%) and Samsung (12%) owners.
Foldable phones
A little over half (52%) of smartphone owners have no interest in purchasing a foldable phone, while 13% would be interested sometime in the next two years.
Millennials are the most intrigued, with 18% interested in purchasing a foldable phone sometime in the next two years compared to only 13% of Gen Z, 14% of Gen X and 9% of Boomers.
"Apple has the opportunity to tap into that interest if and when it debuts a foldable iPhone," Al-Heeti says. "Having one of the most popular and influential phone makers hop on the bandwagon could make foldable smartphones more enticing to a wider range of consumers."
Methodology
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,484 adults, including 2,387 smartphone owners. Fieldwork was undertaken Aug. 28-30, 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
Media contact
Ivey O'Neal
Senior Communications Manager, CNET
[email protected]