Battery Life, Storage, and Camera Features Remain Top Drivers for Smartphone Upgrades: AI Functionality Not a Top Priority for Consumers

Battery Life, Storage, and Camera Features Remain Top Drivers for Smartphone Upgrades: AI Functionality Not a Top Priority for ConsumersA recent survey indicates that despite the growing prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in smartphones, consumers prioritize traditional factors like battery life, storage capacity, and camera features when upgrading their devices. A survey released by CNET on October 25th revealed that 61% of American respondents cited longer battery life as the primary reason for purchasing a new phone, followed by increased storage space (46%) and improved camera capabilities (38%)

Battery Life, Storage, and Camera Features Remain Top Drivers for Smartphone Upgrades: AI Functionality Not a Top Priority for Consumers

A recent survey indicates that despite the growing prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in smartphones, consumers prioritize traditional factors like battery life, storage capacity, and camera features when upgrading their devices. A survey released by CNET on October 25th revealed that 61% of American respondents cited longer battery life as the primary reason for purchasing a new phone, followed by increased storage space (46%) and improved camera capabilities (38%).

The survey, conducted among 2,484 American adults, including 2,387 smartphone users, suggests that while companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung are actively incorporating AI features into their smartphones, consumer interest in AI functionality remains relatively low. Nearly half of all smartphone users expressed reluctance to pay a premium for AI capabilities on their phones.

While Samsung's Galaxy AI is offered free for supported devices until the end of 2025, Google's Gemini Advanced requires an additional subscription fee. Apple also may charge extra for select AI-driven features in the future. However, the survey found that consumers are not keen on these extra costs.

Although Gen Z and Millennials express a slightly higher interest in AI on their phones, the percentage remains limited. Approximately 20% of individuals within these generations consider AI features useful, with 15% of Gen Z and 16% of Millennials employing AI for photo editing, image generation, and text processing. Additionally, around 20% of Gen Z and 19% of Millennials regularly use AI tools like "ChatGPT" or "Google Gemini."

However, privacy concerns continue to be a significant factor in AI usage, with roughly 34% of users expressing worry.

Beyond battery life, storage, and camera features, other considerations for smartphone selection include: screen size and display quality (32%), maintaining existing operating systems like iOS or Android (24%), and phone color (10%).

With the high cost of smartphones, particularly flagship models priced between $800 and $1,200, consumer upgrade frequency is also declining. The survey revealed that 44% of users only replace their phones when the device is damaged or malfunctioning. 30% use their phones for three or more years, 18% upgrade every two years, and only 8% replace their phones annually.

Despite the introduction of foldable devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 6 by Google and Samsung, demand remains lukewarm. Over half (52%) of users indicated they have no intention of purchasing a foldable phone, while only 13% are considering buying one within the next two years.

In conclusion, while AI technology is steadily advancing in the smartphone realm, battery life, storage, and camera features remain the primary drivers for consumer upgrades. AI functionality has yet to become a top priority for consumers when choosing a new phone. Moving forward, smartphone manufacturers need to understand consumer needs more effectively to better drive the evolution of smartphones.