Consumers are planning to replace their smartphones more frequently, with artificial intelligence features emerging as a factor in purchasing decisions, according to survey results released by Citi on Tuesday.
The survey found that expected smartphone ownership periods had shortened to between 2.1 and 2.7 years across all regions, compared with previous replacement cycles of 2.9 to 4.3 years.
Citi identified demand for AI-enabled devices as a potential contributor to the change, particularly among owners of older iPhones interested in accessing Apple Intelligence features.
Purchase consideration for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) exceeded its current ownership share across the markets surveyed. Citi interpreted the difference as an indication of potential market share gains, although stated purchase intentions do not necessarily translate into completed sales.
AI Features Influence Smartphone Purchasing Intentions
The survey identified particularly high interest in AI-enabled smartphones in China and the United States.
Foldable devices also attracted consumer interest, especially in the US and UK markets.
Citi reported increased penetration of Apple Services among surveyed users, indicating broader adoption of the company’s services within its existing customer base.
The findings suggest that AI functionality and access to related software features are becoming considerations in smartphone replacement decisions.
Mac Purchase Intentions Increase Across Regions
Citi’s survey also examined consumer preferences in the personal computer market.
Purchase intentions indicated potential market share gains for Apple’s Mac computers across all surveyed regions, alongside interest in AI-enabled PCs.
Demand for AI PCs was particularly pronounced in China and the United States.
Citi viewed these trends as favourable for major PC manufacturers, including Lenovo (USOTC:LNVGY), Dell (NYSE:DELL), Apple and HP (NYSE:HPQ).
Despite the increased consideration of Mac computers, Windows remained the dominant operating system in the PC market.
iPad Maintains Position in Tablet Market
Consumer preferences in the tablet category showed relatively limited changes.
Apple’s iPad maintained its leading position in the survey, although Samsung (USOTC:SSNHZ), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Xiaomi and Huawei recorded increased purchase consideration in certain markets.
Overall, Citi’s findings indicate that consumers are considering shorter smartphone replacement cycles and showing greater interest in AI-enabled devices across smartphones and PCs.
The survey reflects reported consumer intentions rather than confirmed future purchases or market share changes.