How people decide on a new smartphone: 91mobiles Smartphone Buyers Insights Survey 2023

In our latest Smartphone Buyers Insights Survey 2023, we surveyed over 15,000 people on various aspects involved in buying a smartphone. The participants were asked various questions related to buying a new handset and how they go about it with the purchasing process. In this article, we take a close look at how people decide on a new smartphone,  their primary reason to buy a new handset, the frequency of upgrades, how they research a new phone, and more. Here are the insights.

Primary reason for buying a new phone

• As per the survey data, the biggest reason people shift to a new smartphone is that their current phone does not perform as well as it used to. About 41 percent of the respondents may make the upgrade if they face issues and difficulties with their existing phone.
• As many as 36 percent of the survey participants are likely to buy a new smartphone to experience the latest technologies and innovations available in the market. This allows them to stay ahead of the curve and get better features and specifications than their previous phone.
• Another reason people may opt for a new smartphone is when they come across a good deal in the form of discounts and offers, which could be during festive sales or just in general.

Frequency of smartphone upgrade

• Over half of the survey takers switch to a new primary smartphone only after two years or more. This is understandable considering phones have come a long way, and can provide a decent experience in the long term. Hardware durability and timely software updates play a crucial role in prolonging the lives of smartphones.
• About 20 percent of the respondents move to a new phone between one to two years. This could be those who prefer to get their hands on the latest specifications and technologies as quickly as possible.
• Surprisingly, 18.9 percent of the people in the sample size end up upgrading their smartphones within just one year.

How people decide on a new phone

• When it comes to researching and finding information related to the smartphones available in the market, 26.8 percent of the survey takers resort to gadget websites such as 91mobiles, MySmartPrice, and GSMArena, among others.
• With video content being more prevalent than ever before, many people also watch smartphone reviews on YouTube before purchasing one.
• A certain percentage of survey participants look to their friends and family for recommendations on a new phone.
• People are also likely to visit offline stores and retailers to get a physical overview of the smartphones available in the market. However, a good bunch of people, 13.2 percent, still stick to e-commerce platforms to get the information they need related to a smartphone. This way, they may go through user reviews and make up their buying decision accordingly.