Foldables – smartphones with screens that can be folded – have received substantial media attention while actual sales have been limited. MetaFacts tested the actual acceptance of foldable smartphones among the general online public. (Note: This survey is of the general online public, not only of early adopters, technology enthusiasts, or influencers.) MetaFacts added one question to the annual TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire and we found 121 respondents that report using a foldable smartphone out of 13,641 online adult respondents across the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. The highest share of usage was for Huawei foldable in China.
This sample size is too tiny to profile or size foldables users definitively. Treat the following as directional about the earliest foldables adopters. We can use these research results as confirmation that actual current foldables usage is minimal.
Consumer tech sentiment weakened
Forward consumer sentiment for buying technology products has weakened substantially in the last year, impacting many products from computers to Apple Watch. This MetaFAQs reports on the change in purchase plans between 2021 and 2022 for many products: smartphones, laptops, desktops, wearables, printers, and Chromebooks.
Trends in webcam and video calls/meetings usage
Are video calls and meetings as widespread as tech media implies? How much have webcams and video calls and meetings reached into the everyday experience of the average online adult? This MetaFAQs reports on the usage trend since before the pandemic for online adults in the US, the UK, Germany, and Japan. It further splits video calling/conferencing by smartphone, home PC, or work PC. Furthermore, because change has not affected everyone the same, it details the trend among life stage segments – employment status, age group, and presence of children.
Profile of Americans with the oldest iPhones
As iPhones continue to lead in innovation, who’s staying with the older models? Americans with the oldest iPhones make up 14% of all online American adults. This MetaFAQs profiles those with the oldest iPhones by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender, household size, educational attainment, and technology ecosystem entrenchment. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0812_old_] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones, Devices, User Profile, Technology Ecosystems.
Profile of Americans who recently acquired a smartphone
In tech circles, it seems you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a smartphone. But which Americans are getting the newest phones depends on various factors. 18% of all online American adults recently acquired a smartphone. This MetaFAQs profiles those with new phones by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender; household composition; life stage (age, employment status, presence of children); and technology ecosystem entrenchment. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0811_new_] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones, Devices, User Profile.
Profile of Americans with the oldest feature phones
Every day brings a new smartphone and feature phone innovation—but which Americans are resisting the present and relying on older feature phones? 8.8 million, 4% of all online American adults, use the oldest feature phones, and age and household size play a large role in determining whether a user sticks with the old or upgrades to the new. This MetaFAQs profiles Americans who use the oldest feature phones by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: Age and gender; employment status; household size; life stage (age, employment status, presence of children); and technology ecosystem involvement. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0808_old] in TUP Lenses: Devices; Mobile Phones; User Profile.
Profile of Americans who recently acquired a feature phone
Out with the old, and in with the new? 6.1 million Americans (3% of all online American adults) recently upgraded to a new phone – a new feature phone and not a smartphone. This MetaFAQ profiles Americans who recently acquired a feature phone by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender; employment status; household size; life stage (age, employment status, presence of children); technology ecosystem involvement or entrenchment; game-playing on connected devices; use of competitive game consoles; and use of a VR headset. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0807_new_] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; Technology Ecosystems; Devices; User Profile.
Profile of Americans with the oldest smartphones
There’s a growing divide between those who remain up to date with their smartphones and those who cling to the older models. This report looks at those who own the oldest smartphones—29% of all online Americans. This MetaFAQs profiles online Americans with the oldest smartphones by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender, employment status, and technology ecosystem entrenchment. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0804_old] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones, Devices, User Profile.
Profile of Americans who recently acquired an Apple iPhone
Apple holds an important place in the market, but how many and who are the users getting new iPhones? Those with a new Apple iPhone constitute 8% of all online American adults. This MetaFAQs profiles those with a recently acquired Apple iPhone by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender; employment status; household size; life stage (age, employment status, presence of children); employment status; and technology ecosystem entrenchment. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0803_new_] in TUP Lenses: Devices, Mobile Phones, User Profile, Technology Ecosystems.
American women 40+ and their technology
As the average age of the tech-savvy increases, the face of the average technology user is shifting. A major player in the arena of tech is the American woman aged 40+. This TUPdate reports on the unique attitudes and tech habits of American women at or over 40—a group of 69.3 million Americans. This analysis splits American women aged 40 and older into four segments based on their attitudes, values, and profiles of their use of technology. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0714_fema] in TUP Lenses: User Profile, PCs, Mobile Phones, Households, Activities, Consumer Electronics.