Apple has managed to sustain a brand loyalty that remains unbeaten, especially in smartphones, where the iPhone seems to be the go-to choice, especially for Gen Z consumers. While the trend can be seen globally, specifically in the U.S., its popularity seems unmatched. This is further confirmed in a recent survey conducted on teenagers in the U.S., where the survey results indicate that the iPhone continues to be the most preferred smartphone. Apple's success is not only in creating aesthetically a device that the young generation especially associates with but also in the seamless integration it offers that allows for effortless social connectivity.
A recent survey shed some light on the massive reach that Apple has, suggesting that teens remain fixated on getting an iPhone over other smartphones
There is no denying that Apple seems to dominate the smartphone market. Its products continue to sit well with users, and its popularity only increases with time. This is the case with the iPhone, which remains appealing to young consumers worldwide, especially in America. As per a "Pipe Sandler Taking Stock of Teens" Spring 2025 survey, the iPhone seems to remain a top favorite, with most American teens still wanting it to be their next smartphone.
According to the survey results, 88 percent currently own an iPhone, which is a jump from the 85 percent reported in the previous year's result of the same survey. In addition, 88 percent of teens also showed their intentions to buy an iPhone as their next smartphone, while 25 percent shared their intent to upgrade to an iPhone 17 in the fall or winter. In comparison to the previous year, there has also been an increase in the number of users wanting to upgrade. These growing figures emphasize how the iPhone remains highly sought after, especially by teen consumers.
While Apple's presence in the smartphone category remains strong, competition is heating up in other tech products. For example, 21 percent of teens own a virtual reality headset, out of which 25 percent own an Oculus device, and only 1 percent use the Apple Vision Pro. This shows that Apple's position in the VR space and among teens who are avid users of the category is still limited.
If we talk about Apple TV+, it also struggles with teen viewership. Only 1 percent of the young users stated that they use the service, and this downward trend has been going on for years. Apple Music, however, is promising as it maintains the second-largest market share among young listeners, with 34 percent of the teens saying they used Apple Music in the past six months.
Nonetheless, Apple remains undefeated in the smartphone category, especially for the younger generation, considering their spending habits. It looks like the dominant position is not going any time soon as an increasing number of American teens show their inclination towards the iPhone.
