Consumers in the United States, the world's largest smartphone market, are keeping their devices for nearly four years on average. The longer replacement cycle is widely attributed to increasingly similar performance across devices and higher smartphone prices.
According to global device protection and services provider Assurant, the average iPhone ownership period reached 3.80 years last year, up from 3.67 years a year earlier. For Android smartphones, the average rose more sharply, from 3.52 years to 3.96 years—meaning consumers typically used an Android phone for about four years before replacing it.
The average iPhone ownership period edged down from the previous period as major flagship launches and promotional activity were concentrated around specific periods. In contrast, more Android users traded in devices after using them for four years or longer. This suggests that upgrade demand has become more concentrated around product launch schedules and trade-in incentives.
The slowdown is also visible in U.S. carrier results. Verizon's device-equipment revenue in the second quarter fell by more than 20% year over year, or by roughly USD 1.2 billion. The company said device upgrades had dropped significantly as customers continued to hold on to their mobile devices for longer.
The trend extends beyond the U.S. market. According to Counterpoint Research, the average smartphone replacement cycle in South Korea was about two years and nine months last year—around nine months longer than roughly two years recorded three to four years earlier. Globally, the average replacement cycle peaked at 43.4 months in 2023 and remained at around 43 months last year. While this year's figure has not yet been released, industry observers expect the cycle to have remained at roughly three and a half years.
One key factor is that smartphone performance has become good enough for most everyday needs. Devices launched three or four years ago can still run apps, stream video and take photos without major inconvenience. Even as new models improve their application processors and camera systems, the performance difference felt by average users has narrowed compared with the past.
Higher prices for premium devices are also discouraging upgrades. The global average smartphone selling price hit a record USD 356 in 2024—about KRW 500,000—and has not meaningfully declined since. Major flagship smartphones now often cost more than KRW 1,500,000, while foldable models can reach the KRW 2,200,000 range, increasing the financial burden on consumers.
Industry observers expect replacement cycles to remain long for the foreseeable future. Major manufacturers including Samsung Electronics and Google now offer operating-system and security updates for up to seven years, making it easier to use older smartphones for longer. More consumers are also replacing core components such as batteries and displays, or choosing used and refurbished devices to extend product life.
“Baseline smartphone performance is now high enough that incremental specification upgrades alone are no longer sufficient to drive replacement demand,” an industry source said. “Manufacturers will need to offer consumer-facing AI features, new device form factors and trade-in benefits that reduce the cost burden in order to encourage earlier upgrades.”
