Apple’s better customers, actively using two or more smartphones, tablets, or computers, are decidedly younger than the online population. This youthful skew is seen in every country surveyed.
Germany stands out for its more extreme bias towards younger adults. The long-entrenched Google Android smartphone majority has proven difficult for Apple to penetrate. Germans aged 18 to 24 appear to be challenging the status quo.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China who are actively using two or more Apple OS devices (an Apple iPhone (iOS), an Apple iPad (iPadOS), or an Apple Mac (MacOS). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0127_2apl] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
Tech buying plan trends are stronger among remote workers
With the onset of the pandemic, remote workers rushed to outfit their homes or remote working locations with technology to help them communicate, work, and otherwise be productive. During this time, not all workers could acquire the technology they wanted since only in some cases did employers provide the desired technology. Following this peak, most interest in tech buying plans has waned and reverted to the mean.
This MetaFAQs reports on the purchase plans for remote workers within the next twelve months. It includes mobile phones (smartphones and feature phones), computers (desktops and laptops), tablets, and printers from 2020 through 2023. Each trend is also compared to workers who never work remotely. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0127_plat] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Consumer Electronics; Printers; Work/Life Balance
Printer market highlights and trends
The printer market enjoyed an early pandemic bump, but the long-term decline in printer use has returned, following the decline in computer use and the increase in smartphone, cloud, and social network usage. The latest generation – Gen Z – has not embraced printing, and when they do print, it’s often with a borrowed printer or printing service. A focus on certain groups of productivity and classic printing activities may renew attention to printing.
This TUPdate presentation highlights trends in the market demand for printers and printing, drawing on results from TUP in 2010 to the present, which are based on surveys of over 105,000 American online adults. In addition to printer-specific brands and printing activities, it includes the long-term trends affecting printers. These trends include: the growing shift to smartphone use, the declining use of personal computers, and the habits and preferences of later generations (Gen Z) versus those of earlier generations (Boomers and Silent Generation). It provides a review of printers in the market, who’s using them, why they’re using them (or not), and how forces in the economy and long-term trends in technology usage have an impact on the printer market. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0125_prtr] in TUP Lenses: Printers; Activities; User Profile
Smaller employers rely on workers’ home PCs
During the pandemic, as workers began to work from home, they shifted rapidly to use whatever technology they had. Even after many employees have returned to the workplace, whether on a regular or hybrid basis, the share of workers using a home PC for work continues to outnumber those using an employer-provided PC. The trend in the gap between home and work PCs has narrowed within some sectors, namely in the US and Japan among larger employers, and remains wide among smaller employers around the world.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of workers – full-time, part-time, or self-employed – who use a home PC for work-related activities as compared to those using a work PC for work-related activities, split by the size of the employer. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0103_byot] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Activities; Work/Life Balance
Young Americans fully embrace MacBooks for the first time
Apple Mac laptops reach parity among Windows PCs among young Americans – Apple’s MacBooks have been squarley marketed towards younger adults for many years. Only in 2023 can it be said that Apple caught up to Windows, with Apple’s share of active users aged 18 to 24 having basically the same share as Microsoft’s. Apple’s growth has been taking place slowly and steadily since 2017.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of adult notebook/laptop users using either an Apple or Windows notebook/laptop, detailed by age group and country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0101_182t] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
Apple’s uneven global reach among youth
Apple has a history of marketing towards younger people or those aspiring to have a more youthful image. That has borne fruit, as demonstrated by the higher penetration rates of Apple products and services. Apple’s line of Macintosh computers acquired with personal funds for home use has higher penetration rates among younger adults than among older ones. However, this pattern is not true across all countries surveyed.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults using an Apple home computer within age groups in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1227_yapl] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
Apple edge: loyal customers
Apple has attracted a substantial base of loyal and highly involved customers. One measure of any company’s most loyal customers is those with many devices within a given ecosystem. In Apple’s case, as with Microsoft Windows, or Google’s Android or ChromeOS, this measure is based on the number of Apple products they actively use, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple’s technology ecosystem is one of Apple’s key differentiators, which promises to provide extra benefits to users of more than one Apple product. Potential benefits include smoother interoperability and a more consistent user experience. However, some market segments have limited control over the types of devices they use or they are using fewer devices in a quest for simplicity or economy.
This MetaFAQs reports on the number of online adults across five countries using two or more Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1221_apl2] in TUP Lenses: Technology Ecosystems
Stronger tech buying plans among remote workers
Stronger tech buying plans among remote workers – Workers working from home have substantially stronger purchase plans than workers who never work from home. To be able to work effectively, they need sufficient technology to enable communication, collaboration, comfort, and computing. Based on their recent survey responses, their technology needs are not fully satisfied.
This MetaFAQs reports on the purchase plans for computers, tablets, printers, consumer electronics, and other technology products, contrasting workers who work from home versus those who do not by country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1129_plan] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Consumer Electronics; Printers; Work/Life Balance
Most employers have employees BYOD
Most employers have employees BYOD – The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped many established practices. During this period, many employees transitioned to remote work, leaning on familiar consumer technologies. Consequently, Zoom became a popular choice for virtual meetings over platforms like Webex, which are more corporate-centric. For document collaboration, many opted for Google Docs over more enterprise-focused cloud solutions. Regarding hardware, many employees utilized their personal smartphones and computers. This shift caught numerous employers by surprise. Adapting quickly wasn’t feasible for all, leading some to permit employees to use personal devices. Eventually, facilitating workers with company-approved devices would require careful planning, time, and resources. Many employers acquiesced despite increased security risks and management costs, shifting much of this burden to employees. In light of these developments, the concept of “”bring your own device”” (BYOD) seemed more like “buy your own device.”
This MetaFAQs reports on the number of online employees who use a home-owned computer for work-related activities as compared to the number who use an employer-provided computer in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1021_byod] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Activities; Work/Life Balance
Apple Mac laptops reach parity with Windows PCs among young Americans
Apple Mac laptops reach parity among Windows PCs among young Americans – For years, Microsoft Windows has led the PC market. Meanwhile, Apple’s MacOS has become particularly popular among US adults aged 18 to 24. Currently, in this age group, the usage of Windows and MacOS is nearly identical. It’s worth noting that this trend is specific to young Americans and doesn’t extend to adults in the UK, Germany, Japan, or China.
This MetaFAQs reports on the operating system family of the notebook/laptop actively used by online adults in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1019_1824] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems