Excitement among people is always high when a new iPhone is to be launched. It was the same with Apple's most recent iPhone 15 launch. Long line-ups and even fights broke out during the launch of the iPhone 15, especially in Dubai and India. Recent research shows that by the end of 2023, there will be 1.36 billion iPhone users worldwide, with 136 million users living in the U.S. alone.
Interestingly, Apple now has an iPhone for practically any budget, ranging from the affordable iPhone SE (3rd generation) priced at $399 to the top-of-the-line 1TB iPhone 15 pro max at a price of $1,599. The iPhone 14 is currently priced at $799, the iPhone 14 Plus is currently priced at $899, and the iPhone 14 Pro at $999 while the iPhone 15, and 15 Plus are priced at $799 and $899 respectively.
Consumers look for several qualities while purchasing an iPhone. The features the iPhone combines are what make it so popular among consumers. Notably, 92% of consumers rank battery life as an important factor, with the camera coming in at 67%, the display at 58%, styling/design at 48%, and, storage at 44%. Additionally, the way people buy iPhones has changed over time. The popularity of Apple stores and mobile carrier stores has not changed, but the sales at individual merchants have decreased. Approximately, 67% of customers prefer to buy iPhones from mobile carrier stores and online channels, with the next highest percentage going to Apple retail (24%), Best Buy (4%), and other sources (5%).
Moreover, the iPhone upgrading cycle varies across regions. For instance, one out of every three iPhone users in Mexico makes an upgrade each year. In comparison, the average time between iPhone upgrades in Japan and India is about 1.8 years and 2 years, respectively. In the U.S., iPhone users wait an average of 2.05 years before upgrading their devices. The average time between iPhone upgrades in China is about 2.1 years.
Consumer adoption rates of the most recent iOS versions are noteworthy. As of 2023, iOS 16 is installed on about 81% of all active iPhones, 13% are using iOS 15, and 6% are using the old iOS version. Surprisingly, the iPhone SE has the highest user satisfaction rating among all iPhone models, at approximately 98%. Whereas the iPhone 5G models have an 81% satisfaction rate.
Furthermore, China has become one of the most important markets for Apple. China surpassed the U.S. for iPhone shipments in Q2 2023. The country accounted for 24% of all iPhone shipments, while the U.S. contributed 20%. Apple entered the Chinese market in the year 2010. Within five years, sales in the country reached a peak of $58.7 billion. Despite the difficulties China experienced during COVID-19 in 2020, the country has revived itself as a developing market for Apple rather than an obstacle.
Apple has consistently been effective in attracting audiences around the globe by creating variations to cater to various consumers.