In the competitive world of mobile phones, Apple not only leads global sales, but has achieved something much more important: the passionate favor of the teenage consumer. In the first half of this 2023, the iPhone 14 Pro Max was crowned the best-selling mobile in the world with 26.5 million units, according to Omdia data. But beyond global numbers, there is a field in which Apple is definitely winning the battle: the good social image of young people is associated with owning an iPhone.
87% of teens in the United States, according to a Piper Sandler survey of a sample of 7,100 teens, prefer an iPhone to Android. The predilection for the Apple phone is overwhelming. In a Spanish key, a study carried out by Milanuncios that was published in January 2023 indicated that the demand for used Apple terminals skyrocketed at the beginning of the course, up to 24% more than in the same month of the previous year.
Young people spend almost a third of their day using electronic devices. According to data from Statista, 30.2% of Instagram users are between 18 and 24 years old. It is, together with the range from 25 to 34, the highest figure compared to the rest of the ages. But using an Android mobile has become the reason for a meme among teenagers. The kids associate it with older people, their parents and other "carriages". Something similar to what happens with Facebook in the field of social networks.
In the case of TikTok, it is about 40% of users between the ages of 18 and 24. And these young people not only consume content but also create it. And in this creation of content there is further proof of the opinion that adolescents have of Android mobiles.
On TikTok there are more than 112,000 videos published with the "Android Camera" filter. If activated, the image will become pixelated and at a ridiculous number of frames per second. It may seem like an anecdote, but it reflects the perception that this demographic sector has of devices equipped with Google's operating system. The TikTok meme is also applicable to Instagram. The "Android Camera" filter does exactly the same thing: "ugly" the shared content in order to ridicule this operating system.
Last week Apple confirmed that the presentation of the iPhone 15 will be next Tuesday, September 12. The company founded by Steve Jobs and now led by Tim Cook is the first company to reach three trillion on the stock market. Despite extensive competition over the years, it is the undisputed leader (with more than 75% market share) as far as "premium" devices are concerned.
Regarding prices, the company with the bitten apple is gradually leaving behind its image as an exclusive or excessively expensive manufacturer. Or at least share this poster with other brands. Not surprisingly, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a cost similar to that of many high-end Android devices. Even so, it is still a luxury product for many people: new devices cost more than 1,000 euros. Although coinciding with the new releases, it is possible to find good offers.
On the other hand, the life cycle of the iPhone allows for long-term use and resale on the used market, making it more affordable for consumers. In addition, financing alternatives facilitate the acquisition of these devices.
While there is no specific data on iPhone adoption among youth under 24, the images provide a good sample. And it is that TuAppleMundo published a tweet on its official account in which a video of a Saiko concert was seen whose audience was mostly young, between 16 and 25 years old. In these images you can see how most of the audience used an iPhone.
The iPhone has become a status symbol and the preference for Apple products extends to other devices and services of the brand, creating a strong ecosystem. This is reflected in the choice of Apple Pay as the most popular payment application among teenagers. Specifically, and according to data from Piper Sandler, for payment applications, Apple Pay ranked first, with 23% of users. In second place and with 21%, PayPal's Venmo and Google Pay in tenth place with just 2%.
The iPhone has won the battle in the minds of teenagers, and this preference could have a long-term impact on the mobile phone market and Apple's ecosystem of services. And while the smartphone market is constantly changing, youth brand loyalty seems to be securing its position at the top.
