MetaFacts TUP Client Portal – MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile analysis results for subscribers

August 23, 2023October 4, 2024

Welcome to the MetaFacts TUP client portal

“We shall not cease from exploration,
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
– T. S. Eliot

We can agree that much of the world has changed.

But, what has changed and what has not changed?

Since your company is creating the future, and you want key decisions supported by solid data and fewer assumptions, you have come to the right place. MetaFacts helps leading technology firms measure their current and future customers with empirical research through its TUP/Technology User Profile service. This site describes the many answers that TUP supports and links you to the TUP deliverables.

TUP is the longest-running continuous study of technology users, now in its 42nd year

There are many ways to effectively use this portal, by choosing from the menus above, using the open-ended search box, or choosing from the selections of keywords on the right. Also, the menu above has even more instructions on navigating the TUP client portal.

Welcome to the client subscriber portal for the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile service. Subscribers are able to log in and get access to the latest research results and deliverables of the TUP service.

Insights professionals at technology companies with interest in learning more about TUP are encouraged to visit our main website MetaFacts.com. There you can find samples of our work and details about the TUP service. Or, please feel free to contact MetaFacts.

Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.

October 10, 2024October 14, 2024

Sustained interest in smartwatches, although generations differ

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, October 10, 2024

Background

Wearables have extended the literal attachment many consumers maintain to their respective ecosystems. Smartwatches are more than a fashion accessory; they can act as a visible sign of one’s brand choice, much like white headphones or blue text messages. Watching the forward interest in watches is one key indicator of Apple’s future and that of its rivals.

Approach

This MetaFAQs is based on the responses of 54,619 respondents over four years from the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile 2021 through 2024 waves, spanning the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China. It reports the percentage of online adults planning to purchase wearables in the next twelve months, specifically an Apple Watch, an Android Smartwatch, some other smartwatch, or a fitness tracker. This is further split by generations for global and US views. These results are drawn from the standard published TUP tables named 810 PLANSxAGEGEN.

Summary

Apple is in a slightly stronger market position in 2024 than in 2023, although the Apple Watch has maintained a steady and dominant interest since 2018. Global purchase plans for Apple Watches outnumber plans for Android Wear smartwatches. Apple has seen strengthening interest among Gen Z adults, a group it has consistently dominated with iPhones. Other earlier generations are successively less enthusiastic.

Tables – 810 PLANSxAGEGEN – Global – 2024

October 9, 2024October 14, 2024

An Apple or Android future – the generations speak

Background:

As the smartphone market approaches saturation and ubiquity, the competition between ecosystems has become the most closely scrutinized. Will future smartphone consumers choose an Apple iPhone or an Android smartphone? Is Gen X more interested in iPhones, or are they going with Android?

Approach:

This MetaFAQs is based on the responses of 54,619 respondents over four years from the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile 2021 through 2024 waves, spanning the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China. It reports on the percentage of online adults in three mutually exclusive groups: Those who are planning to purchase an iPhone and not an Android smartphone, those planning to purchase an Android and not an iPhone, and those on the fence – planning to buy either. This is further split by generations for and with a global and US view. These results are drawn from the standard published TUP tables named 810 PLANSxAGEGEN.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

October 3, 2024October 12, 2024

Smartphones overtake computers: Device hour shifts since pre-pandemic times

Background:
Before the pandemic and economic shifts, online adults worldwide have adjusted which devices they use, how they use them, and how often they use them. Two major changes are the shift from feature phones to smartphones and, following that, the transition from computers to smartphones. One measure of this shift is the time users spend with each type of device.

Approach:
MetaFacts surveyed 81,608 online adults in the US, Germany, UK, and Japan from 2018 through 2024 as part of its annual TUP/Technology User Profile study. Within the survey, as part of detailing the multiple devices that respondents regularly use – smartphones, computers, tablets, and game consoles – we have them report the number of hours they use each device weekly. We aggregate these results for each respondent and then report the mean (average) hours within their country and generational age group.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 26, 2024October 5, 2024

The sizzle is fizzling in game-specific devices while gamers find ways to play with whatever they have

Fun is a persistent driver of technology usage, especially playing games. However, not all age generations are as interested in playing games as others are. Also, the devices people choose to play games on are evolving, with software becoming more efficient, graphics getting better, and connections getting faster. Also, the adoption of mobile devices, especially smartphones, has made game-playing more easily in reach to even casual gamers.
Approach: This MetaFAQs is based on the surveys of 52,618 respondents in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China from 2021 through 2024. In the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to specific the activities they do regularly with their devices – smartphones, feature phones, computers, tablets, and game consoles. Among those activities are playing immersive/action games and other games. In addition, we gathered demographics such as age which allows us to group results into generations.
The results in this MetaFAQs include tables for 2021 through 2024 detailing the active use of the following activities and devices by country and generation: Online adults (000), Any smartphone, Any PC, Any home PC, Any game console, Any tablet, Any gaming desktop or laptop PC (NET), Any VR headset, Any device – play a game (NET), Any mobile device – game-playing (Net), Any smartphone – game-playing (Net) , Any PC game-playing or gaming PC (Net), Any PC – game-playing (Net), Any home PC – game-playing (Net), Any game console – game-playing (Net), Any tablet – play a game (NET), Any gaming PC – game-playing (Net)

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 24, 2024October 5, 2024

AI’s adoption easier path among American Apple and ASUS work computer users

AI (artificial intelligence, primarily generative AI tools) has received substantial market attention. Employees are strongly affected, mainly because many AI tools are marketed for productivity and work-related use cases. However, measuring the impact of the media and investor attention is essential to determine the level of interest, receptivity, and caution. There has been enough widespread awareness to measure employee sentiment. Furthermore, commercial computer makers have much of their future contingent upon how well their solutions are put into active use by employees and valued by their employers. Suitability of today’s AI tools aligns better with some occupations more so than others.
Approach: This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 1,404 respondents in the US in August 2024 as part of the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile survey. Relevant to this TUPdate, we asked respondents to report their strong agreement to strong disagreement with a series of statements about AI on a five-point scale. The survey further gathered demographics, such as employee role.
Current TUP/Technology User Profile service subscribers can find these results on their client portal.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 21, 2024October 12, 2024

Gen Z and Millennials are the least negative about AI in many countries

Background:
Any new technology undergoes an awareness and acceptance process before reaching any level of market penetration. That process often rests more on perception and attitudes than on objective measures of speeds, feeds, or productivity. The hype around all things AI has certainly addressed the awareness aspect, although the messages have brought more confusion than clarity for most consumers. Several themes have emerged around the possible benefits from AI assistance such as sparking creativity, boosting productivity, or fostering learning. Simultaneously, there are widespread concerns deterring adoption, including threats to privacy, incorrect results, and disappointment in the offering from what the user expected. Regarding which part of the market might be most accepting of AI, a widely held view is that Generation Z would be first. We’re hoping to address this presumption with empirical evidence.

Approach:
As part of the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile 2024 study, we asked respondents to rate nine statements on a five-point agreement scale. For this analysis, we evaluated three statements as being positive: “AI is a very good way to learn new things,” “AI has been helping me be more productive”, and “AI has been helping me be more creative.” We measured three other statements as being negative: “I am concerned that AI may threaten my privacy,” “AI gives too many wrong answers,” and “AI is not as good as I thought it would be.” We calculated a difference score as the summation of positive ratings minus the negative ratings. We report this difference score by generation and country.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 20, 2024October 4, 2024

American employees and AI-assisted use cases – an emerging yet complicated work relationship

The workforce is one of the primary target markets for generative AI. From knowledge workers to front-line workers, employees of all roles have evaluated and implemented AI for various use cases. Many employers have been the driving force behind the commercial adoption of AI as they hope for productivity gains. Many employees are early adopters and find personal applications they enjoy, shaping their experience and expectations. However, broad market adoption has continued to encounter challenges. Employees and employers alike express concerns about their privacy, disappointment in what they’ve seen so far, and apprehension about getting too many wrong answers.

Approach

This TUPdate is based on the attitudes of 3,422 online employees in the US, selected and weighted to represent the online population. As part of the TUP/Technology User Profile 2024 wave, MetaFacts included questions about employees’ attitudes and expectations of generative AI tools. The survey measured attitudes around the benefits active AI users are enjoying, hopes for the future, privacy concerns, usefulness, and hardware limits. We defined active AI use as a combination of regular activities involving AI tools, specific services like ChatGPT and Copilot, or a Copilot+ PC. Among more than 80 regular use cases across all devices – smartphones, computers, or tablets – we reviewed various work-related activities, spanning communication, collaboration, creation, productivity, and others.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 18, 2024October 5, 2024

The iPhone and Android smartphone switchers, holders, and refreshers

The undecided are scrutinized not only in the political realm. The switchers wavering between iPhone and Android smartphones are a small yet significant group of interest. Add to that the remaining group of users who are (finally) moving from their feature phones to smartphones, and there is much movement in the marketplace.

The smartphone market has evolved into replacement mode. Both Apple and Android smartphone makers know too well that a user beginning with their ecosystem is no guarantee that they will continue.

Many factors also affect whether smartphone users upgrade their smartphones. In China, in particular, a host of influences has affected purchase plans. These include shifts in the economy, nationalistic pressures, and increased challenges from Apple’s rivals based in China, such as Huawei and Xiaomi. Although speeds and feeds have been the fascination of technology media, users have other qualities in mind when they choose a platform. This is especially true for first-time smartphone users.

This analysis reports on the number of adults by their current and planned status, identifying the size of the market for those who intend to switch, plan to hold, are new to the market, and all other combinations of current and intended smartphone platforms.

Approach

To help measure the smartphone switcher market, we divided online adults into 16 groups. These are based on their usage and upcoming purchase plans for acquiring an iPhone or Android smartphone. Our analysis is of all online adults and includes adults who do not actively use smartphones, will be new to smartphones, and those who use more than one type. This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 13,561 online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China in August 2024. As part of the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to identify each smartphone they actively use, including its brand, operating system, and many other details. We also gathered their technology purchase plans for the upcoming twelve months, including purchase intentions for iPhone and Android smartphones.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 17, 2024October 5, 2024

Pro and con attitudes make AI a pushmi-pullyu

Awesome and shiny new technology is not enough to gain rapid, active, or sustained market acceptance. Even widely touted technological phenoms are not guaranteed to be as widely accepted, as we’ve seen with smart homes, smart speakers, 3D printers, IoT, and others. Also, even broad initial acceptance does not translate into engaged or sustained use. Gauging consumer sentiment is one measure of generative AI’s challenges and opportunities ahead, especially by comparing the views of those with hands-on experience to those waiting or avoiding.
Approach: This TUPdate is based on the attitudes of 12,032 online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, and Japan, selected and weighted to be representative of the online population. As part of the TUP/Technology User Profile 2024 wave, MetaFacts included questions about consumers’ attitudes and expectations of generative AI tools. The survey measured attitudes around the benefits active AI users are enjoying, hopes for the future, privacy concerns, usefulness, and hardware limits. We defined active AI use as a combination of regular activities involving AI tools, specific services like ChatGPT and Copilot, or a Copilot+ PC.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

September 15, 2024October 12, 2024

Home PC pricing trends by generation

Background: Starting before the pandemic and subsequent economic shifts, online adults worldwide were adjusting which devices they use, with fewer using home computers. However, many employees working remotely were not provided a computer by their employer and sought to acquire one for their home. Also during this time period, adults were transitioning many of their regular activities from home computers to smartphones. This causes erratic effects to home PC prices, interrupting historical trends.

Approach: MetaFacts surveyed 60,872 online adults in the US, Germany, UK, and Japan from 2020 through 2024 as part of its annual TUP/Technology User Profile study. Within the survey, as part of detailing the home computers that respondents actively use, we gathered the price paid for any acquired as new in the previous 18 months. All prices were converted to US dollars for comparison, grouped into price ranges, and then reported by country and age generation.

This content is for subscribers only.
Join Now

Already a member? Log in here