Fastest Upgraders Own More iPads and Macs, too

As Apple introduced new Apple Watch and AirPods models, we looked at how common it is for iPhone buyers to own these accessories. We saw clearly that iPhone buyers with a faster upgrade cadence own these accessories in greater numbers, and those that hang on to an iPhone longer don’t.

We wondered how iPhone upgrade speed affects other elements of the Apple ecosystem. Do fast upgraders own other Apple products more? What online services do they use? Where do they shop? This week we find that iPhone buyers that upgrade phones more often also are more likely to own iPads and Mac computers.

Overall, among iPhone buyers, about 67% also own an iPad and 36% own a Mac computer. Both devices have longer life-cycles than iPhones. iPads have more lower priced options that Macs have. Macs also have more alternatives, with a variety of (often less expensive) Windows PC options, as well as Chromebooks, and just doing without a personal computer. iPhone buyers that owned their previous smartphone for two years or less were more likely to own an iPad and also a Mac. 69% of iPhone buyers that upgrade a smartphone more rapidly own an iPad, and 42% of those iPhone buyers own a Mac computer (Chart 1).