In the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a buzzword, with companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung fiercely promoting their AI offerings. However, a recent survey suggests that the excitement surrounding AI may not resonate with the majority of smartphone users. Despite the plethora of AI features available on these devices, many iPhone and Galaxy users expressed skepticism about their value. This article delves into the survey's findings, revealing a significant disconnect between tech marketing and user experience.
Survey Highlights: iPhone and Galaxy Users Assess AI Value
A recent survey conducted by SellCell, an online platform dedicated to facilitating the sale of used smartphones, indicates that an overwhelming percentage of iPhone and Galaxy users are unimpressed with the AI capabilities at their fingertips. According to the survey, 73% of iPhone users and a staggering 87% of Samsung Galaxy users reported finding "little to no value" in the AI functionalities provided by their devices. When it comes to preferences, only 15.4% of iPhone users believed that Apple Intelligence outperformed Galaxy AI, while merely 5.9% of iOS users favored the latter. A significant 32% of respondents felt neither option was particularly superior, and 46.7% admitted they lacked sufficient knowledge about AI to make a decisive comparison.
Many iPhone users have experienced the Writing Tools feature. | Image credit-SellCell
Interestingly, Galaxy phone users demonstrated a slightly different perspective. Only 3.8% of Samsung consumers regarded Apple Intelligence as superior to Galaxy AI, while just 7.8% asserted that Galaxy AI surpassed Apple Intelligence. A notable 75.4% indicated that neither AI system was superior, and 13% were unclear about their AI knowledge.
Despite these statistics, nearly half (47.6%) of iPhone users claimed AI was a 'very' or 'somewhat' important factor in their decision to purchase a new device. In contrast, only 23.7% of Samsung users echoed similar sentiments. Furthermore, while 16.8% of iPhone users indicated a willingness to switch to Samsung for enhanced AI features, this figure dropped to 9.7% for Samsung users considering a switch to Apple.
Despite the potential of AI, users from both camps show reluctance to pay for an AI subscription service. The survey revealed that 11.6% of iPhone users would consider such a subscription, compared to just 4% of Samsung users. A considerable percentage, 86.5% of iPhone users and 94.5% of Galaxy users, indicated they would not invest in a paid AI service.
Among iPhone respondents, the most utilized AI feature was Writing Tools, with 72% having tried it. This feature aid in proofreading and generating various text styles. Other popular features included Notification Summaries utilized by 54%, Priority Messages in Mail (44.5%), and Clean Up in Photos (29.1%).
A significant portion of Samsung users embraced AI, with 82.1% experimenting with Circle to Search. Other favorites include Photo Assist (55.5%) and Chat Assist (28.8%).
Barriers to Greater AI Adoption Among iPhone and Galaxy Users
Nevertheless, many iPhone users with AI-ready devices are not fully leveraging these features. The survey revealed that 57.6% have not updated their software, 36.7% do not see the value in Apple Intelligence, and 18.2% find AI accuracy lacking. For Samsung users, 44.2% reported the AI features as unhelpful, while 35.5% deemed them inaccurate, alongside privacy concerns hindering 30.1% from utilizing AI, and 19.7% having not performed the required software updates.
A significant percentage of Galaxy users have tried the Circle to Search feature. | Image credit-SellCell
Worryingly for Apple, loyalty among iPhone users has seen a decline, dropping from 92% in 2021 to 78.9% today. Similarly, Samsung has witnessed a loyalty dip from 74% to 67.2%. This trend underscores a growing concern among smartphone manufacturers regarding user retention amidst diminishing interest in AI capabilities.
The survey included responses from over 2,000 smartphone users in the U.S., encompassing more than 1,000 iPhone users (with models such as iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max) and 1,000 Samsung Galaxy users (features models from the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, and others).
