
Survey Reveals iPhone Users Uninterested in Apple's AI Features | Image Source: www.macrumors.com
Cupertino, California, December 16, 2024 – According to a recent ​survey by SellCell and reported by MacRumors, iPhone users ​have ​shown a warm reception to ​new Apple features of artificial intelligence. Despite Apple’s focus ​on AI as part of its iOS 18.1 launch in October ​2024, the ​survey revealed that 73% of users ​feel ​that functionality adds little ​to any value to their smartphone experience. The results ​indicate that while AI remains an important ​factor for almost half of iPhone buyers, the adoption and perceived usefulness of these tools ​remains ​limited.
The SellCell ​survey, which collected responses from more than ​2,000 US iPhone and ​Samsung Galaxy users aged 18 and older, ​revealed a similar sentiment ​among Samsung’s ​customers. An overwhelming 87% ​of Samsung Galaxy ​users expressed dissatisfaction with the AI tools available on their ​devices, suggesting that the user’s scepticism towards IA features extends through the two major smartphone brands. However, the study also found significant differences in how Apple and Samsung users perceive the role of AI in their purchasing decisions.
Apple AI Tools See Adoption Limited
Apple AI tools, which have ​been introduced with iOS 18.1, include writing tools for text editing and synthesis, notification summaries for alert consolidation, and features such as priority ​messages, smart response and photo cleaning. According to the survey, writing tools appeared to be the most widely used feature, with 72% of respondents testing them, followed by 54% of notification summaries. Features such ​as Smart Response and Photo Cleaning have seen ​a much lower adoption, ​ranging from 44.5% to ​20.9% of users.
Other advanced tools, such as natural language searching in ​photos and transcript summaries, were even less popular, ​with less than 15% of users exploring these options. According ​to SellCell’s conclusions, a major obstacle ​to adoption is ​the lack of updates to ​iOS 18.1. More than half of iPhone users (57.6%) cited this as the main reason not to get involved in Apple AI offers. ​In addition, some users ​raised concerns about the accuracy, confidentiality and overall usefulness of these features.
Apple users see AI as the most important Samsung users
Despite the misuse of Apple’s current AI tools, the investigation revealed that iPhone users are more likely than Samsung Galaxy users to consider AI an important factor in their purchasing decisions. Specifically, 47.6% of ​iPhone respondents said AI is a very important consideration when buying a new smartphone. However, ​only 23.7% ​of Samsung users felt the same way.
However, this AI approach has not led to widespread enthusiasm ​for current Apple offerings. According to ​the study, Apple ​users are increasingly open to brand change if the ​best AI tools are available. The ​survey showed that 16.8% of iPhone users would consider changing Samsung if Galaxy AI features ​offered a higher experience. This represents a remarkable change in ​user ​loyalty, as Apple’s ecosystem domain ​continues to decline. In comparison, only 9.7% of Samsung users expressed their willingness to change to Apple to improve AI tools.
Loyalty declines brand ​among Apple users
Another important finding ​of the investigation is the decrease in the loyalty of the Apple brand. ​According to SellCell data, only 78.9% of ​iPhone users now identify ​themselves as firmly committed to the Apple ecosystem, a sharp fall of 92% in 2021. This change highlights ​the ​growing ​importance of the competitive characteristics of IA in retaining users. Although ​the Apple ecosystem remains robust, the results ​suggest that the company’s grip ​on its user base can be loose as rivals like Samsung continue to improve their artificial intelligence capabilities.
One ​factor contributing to this trend ​is the perception that AI tools currently ​offer limited practical value. Users of both platforms – Apple and Samsung – ​expressed skepticism about the usefulness of AI-driven features. The investigation revealed that smartphone users ​are generally not willing to pay ​for ​AI services, with only 11.6% of Apple users indicating willingness to subscribe to ​AI features. For Samsung users, this figure drops even ​further ​to only 4%.
Can iOS 18.2 and new features ​change options?
The next iOS 18.2 update, which introduces new ​AI tools such as Genmoji and ​deeper ChatGPT integration, could ​be a turning point for Apple’s AI strategy. Genmoji, a ​feature that allows users to create customized ​emojis using generic AI, and ChatGPT-guided tools aim ​to provide a more attractive and user-friendly experience. However, it ​is ​not ​clear whether these updates will address key issues raised in the survey, such as privacy concerns, accuracy and general utility.
As MacRumors pointed ​out, the survey results reflect the broader challenge that technology firms face in integrating IA into their ​ecosystems so that they feel important and valuable to users. Although Apple has made progress in ​demonstrating the ​potential of ​IA through tools such as writing tools and ​summary reports, low adoption rates ​indicate that many users are still ​not convinced. This sentiment ​reflects the results among Samsung users, ​where ​Galaxy ​AI tools also struggled to gain traction.
According to SellCell’s ​analysis, the success of future AI ​updates will depend to a ​large extent on how these tools meet ​the real needs ​of users. For Apple, the upcoming iOS updates are an opportunity to regain ​the enthusiasm of users and strengthen loyalty within your ecosystem. However, competition with Samsung and other smartphone brands continues to intensify, with emerging AI features like ​a critical ​battlefield.
The survey results were based on responses from over 2,000 smartphone users in the United States. Participants included iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users with devices ​that support AI functionality, providing a complete snapshot of users’ feelings about adopting AI and brand loyalty.
Ultimately, while AI remains a key approach for technology ​companies, the results suggest that ​there are significant challenges to provide tools that resonate with users. ​As Apple prepares to launch iOS 18.2 and further improvements to ​its IA ​offerings, the coming months will be crucial to determine whether these updates can change user ​perceptions and stimulate wider adoption.