Foldables and AI Sound Exciting, But Most People Aren’t Biting
Phone makers are betting big on new concepts like foldable phones and AI-powered tools to entice buyers, but the response from everyday users is muted. CNET’s latest survey shows that only 13% of smartphone owners say a new phone concept such as a foldable or flip design would motivate them to upgrade. AI integrations perform even worse as a selling point, convincing just 12% of respondents to consider a new device. That’s despite aggressive promotion of features like custom emoji, AI photo clean-up, live translation and smart call screening on devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line and rumored foldable iPhones and Razr models. The message from users is clear: novel shapes and clever software tricks alone do not rank high among smartphone upgrade reasons. For most buyers, these innovations feel optional rather than essential.
Price, Battery and Storage: The Real Drivers of Smartphone Upgrades
While brands spotlight AI smartphone features and futuristic designs, buyers remain anchored to fundamentals: how much the phone costs, how long it lasts on a charge and how much it can store. In CNET’s survey, 55% of smartphone owners said price would motivate them to upgrade, 52% cited longer battery life and 38% pointed to more storage. These priorities have stayed remarkably consistent over several years, even as marketing cycles push new buzzwords. Camera capabilities (27%) and display or screen size (22%) matter, but they still trail behind basic practicality. With baseline phones like the iPhone 17 (256GB) at USD 800 (approx. RM3,680) and the Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) at USD 900 (approx. RM4,140), buyers are scrutinizing value more than ever. When to upgrade phone is increasingly a question of necessity—battery fatigue, storage limits or a compelling price—rather than curiosity about the latest experimental feature.
The Growing Gap Between Hype and Everyday Needs
The survey highlights a widening gap between what manufacturers promote and what people actually want. Marketing narratives revolve around foldable phone worth it debates, AI assistants and futuristic concepts like book-style and clamshell devices. Yet most smartphone owners are more concerned that their battery is fading or their storage is full than whether their handset can bend or draft messages from a prompt. Consumer sentiment toward AI even dipped from earlier years before inching up slightly, suggesting skepticism about how transformative these tools really are. Many users see AI as a nice-to-have, not a primary reason to spend more on a new device. As prices climb and designs grow more complex, buyers are increasingly cautious. They are looking past slogans and focusing on whether a phone will deliver reliable performance, enough capacity for apps and photos, and all-day endurance without constant charging.
Battery Frustration Shows Why Upgrade Cycles Are Slowing
Battery performance is a major factor in the stalling upgrade cycle. CNET’s data shows 58% of smartphone owners are frustrated with their current battery life, and 31% say their phone no longer holds a charge like it did when new. Because most phone batteries start degrading after two to three years, many users stretch their devices until endurance becomes intolerable. That means upgrades are triggered by failure, not excitement about new features. Even as high-end phones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max or devices with silicon-carbon batteries deliver impressive lab results, people still experience real-world issues influenced by carrier signal strength, software efficiency and processors. This reinforces a conservative mindset: users will often tolerate a weaker battery or swap it out before paying for a pricey new model, slowing down upgrade frequency and making it even harder for cutting-edge but non-essential features to justify a purchase.
How Understanding Upgrade Motivation Helps Buyers and Brands
Recognizing the true smartphone upgrade reasons can benefit both consumers and manufacturers. For buyers, it clarifies when to upgrade phone: focus on whether your current device still meets your daily needs for battery life, storage, camera quality and performance, rather than chasing every new design or AI feature. If your battery is rapidly degrading, storage is constantly full or essential apps lag, those are strong signals an upgrade may be justified—especially when a good deal appears. For brands, the survey is a reminder that sustainable success depends on solving real problems, not just shipping flashy concepts. Folding screens and AI tricks may differentiate products, but they will only drive upgrades when they deliver clear, tangible benefits. Aligning innovation with practical outcomes—better endurance, smarter storage management, more reliable cameras—will narrow the hype gap and make future upgrades feel both exciting and truly worthwhile.