Survey Data Exposes a Growing Foldable Phone Skepticism
Foldable phone skepticism is no longer just a loud minority on tech forums; it is reflected clearly in new survey data. According to CNET’s latest smartphone upgrade survey, only 13% of smartphone owners say a new concept such as a foldable or flip device would motivate them to consider upgrading. At the same time, just 12% cite AI integrations as a key driver, underscoring a wider smartphone upgrade hesitation toward the industry’s favorite buzzwords. Instead, the majority of respondents are focused on everyday fundamentals: 55% are motivated primarily by price, 52% by longer battery life and 38% by more storage. Those priorities have remained remarkably stable across several years of polling, even as brands push ever more experimental form factors. The data suggests that most people still see foldables and AI as optional extras, not must‑have innovations worth buying a whole new phone for.
Why Practical Performance Still Beats Flashy Innovation
The survey highlights a widening gap between what manufacturers spotlight and what users actually value. While marketing focuses on AI features worth buying—like automatically removing objects from photos, drafting messages from prompts or live translation—most owners care more about whether their phone lasts the day and has enough space for photos and apps. Camera improvements motivate 27% of respondents, and display or screen size matters to 22%, but these still trail far behind price and battery life. Over half of smartphone owners report frustration with current battery performance, and nearly one in three say their device no longer holds a charge like it did when new. This practical pain point explains why consumer tech skepticism is rising around premium “innovations.” People see incremental benefits from AI tricks, yet face clear, daily limitations from short battery life and cramped storage, making utilitarian upgrades feel far more compelling than experimental designs.
AI Features Worth Buying? Users Aren’t Convinced Yet
Despite the industry’s AI arms race, most consumers still do not view AI features as worth buying a new device for. Only 12% of surveyed smartphone owners list AI integrations among their top upgrade motivators, even as brands roll out tools like AI call screening, custom emoji creation and photo clean‑up. Sentiment toward AI as a selling point actually dropped sharply between 2024 and 2025 before ticking up slightly this year, signalling ongoing consumer tech skepticism rather than a full‑blown backlash. The problem is not that AI features are useless; it is that they are perceived as nice‑to‑have conveniences rather than transformative capabilities. When battery life degrades after two or three years and storage fills up, those tangible frustrations overshadow the appeal of smarter software. Until AI demonstrably extends device longevity or reduces everyday friction, most people seem unlikely to treat it as a primary reason to upgrade.
Rising Prices Deepen Smartphone Upgrade Hesitation
Climbing prices are reinforcing smartphone upgrade hesitation, even among users who are curious about new designs. The baseline iPhone 17 with 256GB storage now costs USD 800 (approx. RM3,680), while the Samsung Galaxy S26 at the same capacity starts at USD 900 (approx. RM4,140). Those figures make experimental concepts like foldables an even harder sell, especially when most respondents say price is their number one upgrade driver. Advanced components, inflation and increasingly complex designs are all pushing costs up, and CNET notes these may be the lowest launch prices consumers see for a while. In this context, users are asking whether foldable hinges and AI shortcuts justify paying more when their current phone still works. Many would rather hold out for discounts or invest in a model with proven battery gains and larger storage than pay a premium for features they are not sure they will use daily.
What the Innovation Gap Means for the Future of Smartphones
CNET’s findings reveal a clear innovation gap: manufacturers are chasing headline‑grabbing foldables and AI ecosystems, while consumers keep prioritizing durability, battery life and affordability. Over half of owners are already annoyed with battery performance, and 31% say their phone no longer holds a charge like when it was new. This tension suggests that the next wave of compelling upgrades may not come from radical new form factors but from incremental, user‑centric improvements—such as longer‑lasting batteries, smarter power management and more efficient storage. For brands, the challenge is to align R&D with what people demonstrably value instead of assuming novelty will drive demand. For buyers, the survey reinforces a simple message: if your current device still meets your needs, there is little pressure to chase every new feature trend. Innovation will have to prove its real‑world value before most users are ready to pay for it.