New Study Shows the Average iPhone Is Older Than You May Think

Earlier this fall, Apple unveiled its newest slate of iPhones. The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models boast fancy new features and even some new color options, but the phone maker could be a victim of its own success when it comes to attracting new customers.

A new survey suggests that smartphone buyers are holding on to their phones for longer, and that they're spending less on average to upgrade when they make the decision to do so.

A survey conducted by Reviews.org asked 1,000 American adults about their phone preferences. The survey found that the average American keeps their cellphone for about two years and five months.

How Often Are Americans Upgrading their Phones?

When users do decide to upgrade, they're not springing for the latest or greatest models. The average cost that customers are reporting for a new phone is roughly $634.35 - a far cry from the $999 suggested retail price of the iPhone Air and the $1,199 price tag of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The survey was conducted in late September, and shows that customers may be tempted to buy new phones, but are swayed by budgetary limitations or other factors that prevent them from upgrading immediately.

One-third of American iPhone buyers in 2024 reported keeping their phones for three years or more, according to a survey conducted by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.

“Our customer now holds their phone way over 36 months, which is very long,” said former Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg.  “I mean, we remember when we changed the phone every year. That was exciting times.”

Customer habits seem to align with the rising cost of flagship devices. The first iPhone released in 2007 for a $499 price tag, and innovations come with a higher cost. The iPhone X - released a decade later in 2017 - was the first model to eclipse the $1000 mark.

CIRP data shows that most customers are upgrading their phones for faster performance, battery issues, or simply because the phone they have is lost or broken. Only 8% of upgrading users in their 2024 survey chose to get the newest model simply because it was new.

The Growing Popularity of the Used Market

"As we look at the new iPhone 17 lineup, we need to remember that fewer buyers these days will abandon a perfectly usable iPhone, whether it’s one year or five years old, to buy a new iPhone with the latest features," CIRP wrote in a September report.

The average upgrade price also shows that customers are okay with waiting for a deal, or even a refurbished model of a phone that released one or two years ago. Deals on second hand phones are common, allowing users to experience flagship performance at a fraction of the price.

“A refurbished phone from the right kind of refurbishing program can be basically indistinguishable from a new phone,” says Courtney Lindwall of Consumer Reports.

The data seems to show that customers around America share that same belief.