With the shiny iPhone 17 set to be unleashed in eight days, SellCell’s poll of 2,000 US-based iPhone owners revealed that only 68.3 per cent plan to buy the new model. That’s a 10.3 per cent bump compared to last year’s iPhone 16 launch, so Job’s Mob might be tempted to celebrate. But scratch the surface and things get wobbly fast.
A full 30.3 per cent of users say they’ll ditch their iPhones entirely if Job’s Mob doesn’t get its act together on foldables. Specifically, 20.1 per cent would move to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold or Flip, while 10.2 per cent prefer Google’s Pixel Fold. Just 3.3 per cent say they’ll wait for a folding iPhone, which won’t appear until next year at the earliest.
Those figures paint a fairly grim picture of a user base losing patience with a company that has been riding on the same tired formula for years.
While 72.9 per cent say they're more satisfied now with their iPhone than they were in the past, a telling 27.1 per cent admit they think Job’s Mob has “lost its edge.” Still, blind loyalty appears to hold strong, at least for now.
Of those planning an upgrade, 38.1 per cent want the overpriced iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. Another 16.7 per cent will settle for the standard 17, while 13.5 per cent are aiming for the paper-thin iPhone 17 Air.
When asked why they wouldn’t buy the iPhone 17, 68.9 per cent cited Apple’s usual problem of providing an expensive phone which is eclipsed by mid-priced Android phones. Another 16 per cent said they’re bored of the lack of innovation. Just five per cent are already eyeing a switch to Android.
When asked what might tempt them to splash out anyway, 53 per cent said a larger battery might just do the trick. A redesigned Dynamic Island or fresh colour options would be enough for 36 per cent, while just seven per cent care about whatever weak AI tricks iOS plans to roll out.
That’s not great news when half of those surveyed think Android is starting to look like the better bet. Of that group, 13 per cent say Android’s AI is more impressive, while 11 per cent are lured by better cameras and pricing. Another nine per cent are there for the foldables, which Job’s Mob still hasn’t bothered to deliver.
Even if tariffs slap higher price tags on the iPhone 17, 34 per cent will still buy one. But 37 per cent say they won’t bother if the cost goes up, and 29 per cent are sitting on the fence waiting to see how bad it gets.
If Job’s Mob keeps pretending it’s still 2012, the cocaine nose jobs of Wall Street might start noticing the emperor’s wardrobe is looking a bit sparse.