The calendar says September 2, which means Apple’s annual event is exactly a week away. The highlight this year will be the iPhone 17 lineup. Rumors and leaks have already spoiled much of the surprise, and the reactions are predictable. Some fans are thrilled and already reaching for their wallets, while others claim Apple has lost its way and insist they would never buy the new model.
The numbers tell a different story. A new SellCell survey reveals that nearly 70% of iPhone owners intend to upgrade to the iPhone 17 at its launch. That level of interest points to strong demand, despite the loud critics online.
Key Takeaways From SellCell Survey
SellCell surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. iPhone owners to measure upgrade intent – here are the results:
- The survey confirms Apple still holds a powerful grip on its users. Nearly seven out of ten iPhone owners (68.3%) said they plan to move to the iPhone 17 at launch. That’s a jump from 61.9% who said the same thing before the iPhone 16, showing interest actually grows despite all the online noise about “boring” upgrades.
- The Pro and Pro Max remain the crown jewels of the lineup, attracting 38.1% of planned buyers.
Source: YouTube video by ZONEofTECH - The new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air also drew attention, with 13.5% of users ready to trade some battery life for bragging rights about the slimmest iPhone ever.
Source: YouTube video by ZONEofTECH - Customer satisfaction remains high: 72.9% of users said they feel happier with their iPhone than in past years. But Apple can’t ignore the warning sign – 27.1% still think the company has “lost its edge.” That’s more than a quarter of the current base, and any competitor with a halfway decent product would love to scoop them up.
- Foldables remain the elephant in the room. A small share (3.3%) said they would only wait for a foldable iPhone. If Apple delays until 2026, the risk grows: 20.1% would consider Samsung, and 10.2% would lean toward Google. For a company that prides itself on keeping users locked into the ecosystem, those numbers should sting.
Source: YouTube video by ZONEofTECH - When it comes to upgrading motivators, battery life crushes everything else. A majority (53.2%) want a phone that simply lasts longer on a charge. Meanwhile, just 7.1% said AI or software features matter most, so much for Apple Intelligence being the magic bullet.
- eSIM has become the norm. Roughly 72.5% of respondents said they are fine with it, although more than a quarter still prefer the comfort of a plastic SIM card. Apparently, pulling out a paperclip to swap cards hasn’t lost its charm.
- And then there’s the wildcard: tariffs. If prices climb, 36.8% would delay their purchase, and 29.2% said it would depend on how much higher the bill runs. In other words, Apple’s “it just works” slogan could turn into “it just costs more” if the wrong trade policy lands.
Why Some iPhone Owners May Skip the iPhone 17
The survey also captured the reasons why many users won’t rush to trade in their current devices. 71.7% said they remain satisfied with their existing iPhone, which shows Apple has already built phones so durable that people now hesitate to replace them. Price is in second place, with 68.9% of respondents calling it the main obstacle.
Lack of innovation ranked as another factor. About 16% argued the iPhone 17 does not bring enough new features to justify a purchase. A smaller share mentioned other plans: 3% admitted they might switch to Android. Clearly, Samsung and Google still have a few fans lurking in the shadows.
The rumored discontinuation of the iPhone 17 Plus hardly mattered. Few respondents (about 5%) expressed interest in that mid-tier size, so Apple is unlikely to lose sleep over dropping it.
A different issue could cause real hesitation: higher prices. If tariffs push costs up, only 34% of iPhone owners said they would buy right away. Another 37% would hold off, while 29% would wait to see how steep the increase becomes. That means nearly two-thirds of potential buyers could hesitate if the price climbs beyond expectations.
Final Thoughts
It was interesting to look through the results of this survey, and we hope you found it useful as well. The sample size may not be massive, but the results give a clear picture of where iPhone owners stand. Apple continues to hold its ground, no matter how much critics complain on social media. In practice, sales will not be small, and wallets will always open on launch day.
The same pattern will likely repeat across Apple’s other devices. New Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches will probably show similar results once they hit the shelves. So, while the arguments about Apple “losing its touch” make for good headlines, the numbers suggest that people continue to buy.
