Mobile users say AI features add ‘little to no value’ in new survey

The widespread adoption of AI features in smartphones has met with surprising consumer indifference, as revealed by a comprehensive survey of iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users.

Survey scope and methodology: A Sellcell.com study surveyed over 2,000 smartphone users who own the latest AI-enabled devices, including iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24 models.

• The survey revealed that 73% of iPhone users and 87% of Samsung users believe AI features provide minimal value
• Less than half (47.6%) of iPhone users consider AI features important in purchasing decisions, while only 23.7% of Samsung users value these features when choosing a device

Current adoption patterns: Both iPhone and Samsung users show limited engagement with AI features on their devices.

• 58.4% of iPhone users haven’t explored Apple Intelligence features, citing outdated software (57.6%) and perceived lack of utility (36.7%) as main barriers
• Similarly, 53.1% of Samsung users haven’t tried Galaxy AI features, with 44.2% questioning their usefulness and 35.5% citing accuracy concerns
• Privacy remains a significant concern, particularly among Samsung users, with 30.1% expressing reservations

Feature popularity breakdown: Users who do engage with AI features show clear preferences for specific functionalities.

• Apple users gravitate toward practical tools, with Writing Tools (72%) and Notification summaries (54%) leading adoption
• Samsung’s Circle to Search feature dominates usage at 82.1%, followed by Photo Assist at 55.5%
• AI-enhanced Siri shows remarkably low adoption at just 3.1% among iPhone users

Brand loyalty implications: The lukewarm reception to AI features may influence brand allegiance.

• Only 16.8% of iPhone users and 9.7% of Samsung users would consider switching brands for superior AI capabilities
• Apple’s brand loyalty has declined by 13 percentage points since 2021, suggesting broader satisfaction issues beyond AI features

Looking ahead: The significant gap between smartphone manufacturers’ AI investment and actual user engagement suggests a potential disconnect between product development strategies and consumer needs, raising questions about the future direction of smartphone innovation and the role of AI in mobile devices.