Background: Wireless item trackers such as Apple AirTags or from Tile have reached beyond double-digit market penetration. For technology market leader Apple, the devices hold the promise of extending the depth of user engagement with and reliance on the Apple ecosystem. Location sharing is a double-edged sword, since it increases the risk of a privacy breach while simultaneously offering enhanced convenience.
Approach: This MetaFAQs is based on the responses of 7,537 online adults from the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile 2024 wave. It reports the percentage of online adults using an item tracking device such as an Apple AirTag or Tile. Respondents are profiled by age, gender, generational life phase, detailed employment status, presence of children, household size, use of Apple, Windows, and Android devices, and plans to acquire a wireless item tracker in the next 12 months.
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.
The continued decline of widespread personal computer use
Market penetration is one of the core overall measures affecting all manner of technology companies: hardware, software, services, and support. The key device types measured in this analysis are the active use of a home computer, an employer-provided “work” computer, or any other computer, such as one supplied by a university or in a library, cybercafé, or owned by a friend or neighbor. The primary measure reported in this TUPdate is the percentage of online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, or China actively using any of these computers.
Approach: This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 82,101 respondents in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China from 2019 through 2024. In the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to identify the active installed base of connected devices they use – smartphones, feature phones, computers, tablets, and game consoles. In addition, we had them specify the source of funds for the computers they use – home, work (employer-provided), or other (public, school, library, cybercafe, friend, etc.)
The shock undermining monoculture or ecosystem dominance
The recent cybersecurity event involving Microsoft and Crowdstrike garnered much attention. It also renewed concern among consumers who may worry their Windows devices will be next to fail.
This TUPdate double-clicks on the devices people use in addition to a single computer, smartphone, or tablet. It splits out the share of online adults around the world (in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China) who use a computer, Windows 11 PC, Windows 10 or earlier PC, or Apple computer by the percentage of those who use other devices such as iPhones or Android tablets. It splits out the share of smartphone, iPhone, and Android smartphone users who use computers with Windows 11, 10, or earlier versions, Apple computers, iPads, or Android tablets. It also reports the multi-year shift in how many devices people use regularly. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0723_mono] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Technology Ecosystems
Computer penetration rates drop, but less so among older adults in many countries
Computer usage has declined among adults across many countries as an increasing number rely on their smartphones for activities from shopping to checking email. To the extent active computer penetration rates have been sustained, they have been supported mostly by older adults in Germany, Japan, and the US. In the UK and China, the age gap is less pronounced.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who actively use a home computer, employer-provided computer, or any other computer such as one owned by a cybercafé, school, or library. The results are split by country and age category. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0228_agpt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile
In most countries, age is a factor explaining declining active printer use
Even the most generous measure of printer use – whether any adult has used any printer in the prior 90 days – shows a substantial decline. In most countries surveyed, the deepest drop in active printer use has been among younger adults.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults actively using a printer split by country (US, Germany, UK, Japan, China) and age group (18-24, 25-34, 35-49, 50+). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0218_agpt] in TUP Lenses: Printers; User Profile
Apple’s wavering global reach among youth
Apple has historically targeted and appealed to younger adults, starting with Apple home computers. While this market segment remains vital to Apple, only a fraction of adults aged 18 to 24 across multiple countries actively use an Apple home computer. Also, the penetration rate has been wavering. Younger adults are increasingly using smartphones for many activities instead of home computers. Also, many members of this age group are changing their life circumstances, as students or in their employment status. Still, in most countries surveyed, this age group has higher market penetration than older adults.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of adults actively using an Apple home computer by country (the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China) and age group (18-24, 25-34, 35-49, and 50+). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0216_yapt] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
Apple deepens its loyalty in Germany and the UK
One hallmark of Apple’s success with its technology ecosystems is the breadth of Apple products that customers use. Using the most straightforward measure of market penetration—those adults who use at least one Apple product—Apple shows stable market penetration globally and in the US, the UK, Germany, and Japan. Looking one level deeper, the share of customers using two or more Apple OS devices shows a similar pattern, a positive sign for Apple. User penetration trends in China are less optimistic.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults using one or more Apple OS devices—an iPhone, iPad, or MAC—and those using two or more Apple OS devices. The data is split by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0213_aplt] in TUP Lenses: Technology Ecosystems; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets
In most countries, younger adults boost any Apple iPhone market expansion
Apple’s iPhone slightly leads among American smartphone users and is approaching the halfway mark among smartphone users in the UK. However, the iPhone is losing its share in Japan, and its status in China has been mixed from 2019 through 2023. In nearly every country surveyed, the iPhone’s market penetration has been driven by younger smartphone users, while penetration rates among older smartphone users have remained relatively flat.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of smartphone users using an Apple iPhone split by country and age category. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0209_ipht] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
Younger adults continue to drive computer acquisition
Online adults in most countries worldwide boosted their computer buying during the pandemic, only to return to near prepandemic levels. In the US and Germany, the peak was in 2021; in the UK, the highest refresh was not until 2023. Online adults in Japan maintained low levels. The highest shares of recently acquired computers were younger adults aged 18 to 24 or 25 to 34.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who acquired a primary PC in the previous 12 months, split by country and age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0207_youu] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile