Apple users are sticking with their devices longer than ever

Apple device users definitely prefer to wait longer for newer versions, according to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) and analysis by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The data reveals a big increase in the number of users who keep their iPhones, iPads and Macs for more than two years. In the case of iPhones, 71% of recent buyers had a previous phone that was more than two years old, up from 63% in 2020. Similarly, 68% of new Mac owners have a previous computer that is more than two years old, up from 59% just four years ago.

The change in user behavior is due to several reasons.

• One factor is the lack of major new features in Apple’s new products, but that’s more of a trend in the tech industry. Updates often feel incremental, failing to justify the cost of a new device.
• Apple products have become much more reliable and durable, and crashes happen less often. This means that iOS updates now last six years. (Still a year less than some Androids, at least on paper)

The rise of cloud services and web applications has reduced the need for ever-increasing computing power on Macs, and this trend is very clear with Macs. Many users feel that their current Macs have enough storage and speed to handle everyday tasks. With longer battery life, users are less likely to upgrade to a newer model.

• In 2020, 19% of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac had a previous device that was less than a year old.
• In 2020, the percentage of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac and had a previous device that was 1-2 years old or 2-3 years old was the same (23%).
• In 2020, the largest percentage (40%) of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac had a previous device that was three or more years old.
• In 2024, the percentage of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac and had a previous device less than a year old decreased (13%).
• In 2024, there was a slight increase in the percentage of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac and had a previous device that was 1-2 years old (23%).
• In 2024, there was a decrease in the percentage of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac and had a previous device that was 2-3 years old (19%).
• In 2024, the largest percentage (45%) of Mac owners who purchased a new Mac had a previous device that was three or more years old.

It’s clear that Apple needs to find new ways to sell its devices and attract more users; this could either be through the introduction of new devices like the Apple Vision Pro, or a fundamentally different version of an existing device like the rumored Apple Vision “Lite,” or by making old devices obsolete with new, upcoming technology, e.g. the entry-level version of the latest iPhone 15 and the Plus variant can’t use Apple Intelligence features.