iPhone Users Hold On To Them Longer, Study

Research by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) shows that iPhone users do not discard their phones immediately, but wait much longer than users did earlier.

Currently, about 50% of iPhone users hold on to their phones for almost two years, which is an upgrade from 2013. That was the year when just 34% of iPhone users held on to their phones.

In June 2013, about 66 percent of iPhone users were either just a year or two old. But by March 2016, the rate fell to 51 percent, perhaps due to Apple battling to get new clients in countries such as China.

"Overall, over the past almost three years, the average age of a new iPhone buyer's previous iPhone has increased by approximately three months," said Mike Levin, a CIRP partner and company co-founder.

In September, Apple's cutting-edge smartphone, also called "iPhone 7," is expected to be launched.

"This motivator appears to outweigh the impact of any early upgrade options that carriers offer with the new financing plans, and the increased availability of trade-in programs and used phone purchase websites," the study says.