9 out of 10 American teenagers own an iPhone

There is a reason why many people feel like everyone and their mother owns an iPhone. Apple’s devices have continuously dominated the smartphone market, especially in the US - that much is common knowledge.

What is more surprising, however, is the iPhone’s prevalence amongst youngsters. According to one recent survey, 87% of teenagers in America own an iPhone. This is more than double the share 10 years ago.

This information was first brought forward by MacRumors in a dedicated article. The piece also highlights two interesting details.

Firstly, 88% of teens expect an iPhone to be their next smartphone. This figure indicates some serious brand loyalty that few companies enjoy. The survey implies that there is a link between this commitment to Apple’s products and the company’s services.

For once, imagine how it feels being one of the 13% of teenagers that do not own an iPhone. How many group chats can you not participate in, because you do not have free access to iMessage? Needless to say, Apple’s ecosystem maintains a firm grip on young consumers’ daily lives.

Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if the teenagers that grew up using an iPhone, continue doing so later on in life. Perhaps this next generation of American consumers will end up being dogmatically loyal to Apple though and through.

Secondly, the huge increase in teen iPhone ownership has happened against the backdrop of Apple nearly doubling the price of its smartphones over the same period (not accounting for inflation). 10 years ago, the average iPhone did not cost $1000.

Now, these wildly expensive devices are mainstream in a social group that usually has no income to speak of whatsoever. Granted, not every teen has the newest iPhone 14 Pro Max, but the trend still indicates just how much clout Apple has.

It will be interesting to see if these trends translate to the wider market over the next couple of years. Apple has, for better or worse, become a big part of daily life for most Americans. It looks like there might be no going back now.