Planning on upgrading to the iPhone 5 this September, when it’s rumored to be released? Well, you definitely won’t be alone in line at the Apple Store.
Shopping site PriceGrabber surveyed over 2,800 people, asking them if they planned on purchasing the upcoming 5th generation of the popular mobile communications device, and a whopping 35% said they planned to do just that. Over half of that number said they planned to buy within the very first year after the iPhone 5’s release, to take earlier advantage of the coolness factor before the novelty wears off.
Over 15 million iPhones were sold in the U.S. in 2010. When coupled with 24 million sold the year before and 11.4 million in 2008, there’s a total of 50 million iPhone 3 and 4 users out there potentially rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a device upgrade, and eligible to move up to the new device over the next two years.
Even when setting aside the general population and focusing only on current iPhone users, approximately 8-9 million iPhone 5s could be leaving the shelves into the hands of current Apple users. Be prepared for a lot of shiny new toy showing off in the office, church, home and elsewhere.
Of course, a variety of other factors will come into play, including the multitude of Android devices continuing to hit the markets, coupled with the opportunity for consumers to more fully integrate a phone using Google’s mobile operating system with its new social network, Google Plus.
“Anticipation and brand loyalty are certainly high, but in today’s 24-7 work culture and uncertain economic environment, consumers are cautious to look for a reasonably priced phone that will perform optimally over an extended time period,” said PriceGrabber general manager Graham Jones.
Consumers surveyed said they were hoping to see a variety of features in the iPhone 5, including longer battery life, lower price, 4G compatibility, better camera and a larger touchscreen. Nobody yet knows if any of these features will come to fruition in the next iteration of the device.
Ratings company Nielsen predicts that by the end of this year, half of all consumers will have a smartphone. With a population of over 200 million in the U.S. aged 15-64 years old (and in hopes they throw in a number of desired features,) Apple might want to set its sights on getting around 15-20 million iPhone 5s into the U.S. market by the end of 2012.
I’m available to test any one of them, Apple (hint, hint.)
