Apple has not confirmed anything about its upcoming smartphone likely to be called iPhone 7. However, consistent supply chain leaks and rumors continue to build up excitement for the device among potential buyers. A recent survey of smartphone owners found that consumers are more excited about the iPhone 7 than they were for the last year’s iPhone 6S. But the excitement this time isn’t as high as it was for the iPhone 6 in 2014.
Europe shows the lowest excitement
The UBS Evidence Lab (via Apple Insider) surveyed 6,336 smartphone users in the US, UK, Germany, China and Japan. The American and Chinese participants were more interested in the iPhone 7 than they were in the iPhone 6S last year. However, the excitement level for the upcoming smartphone lagged behind that of iPhone 6 in both markets.
According to the UBS Evidence Lab, European customers are not very enthusiastic about the iPhone 7. Based on the survey data, UBS analyst Steven Milunovich estimates that the iPhone unit sales would grow 5% to 10% in Apple’s fiscal year 2017. The analyst believes that there are millions of users who haven’t yet upgraded to a larger display iPhone, and they may purchase the upcoming iPhone.
iPhone 7 needs to offer something spectacular
Almost half of the survey participants were holding off on purchasing a new iPhone until Apple launches the iPhone 7. The Cupertino-based tech giant’s revenues declined in the latest quarter due to weak iPhone demand. The next-gen device needs to offer something spectacular to get consumers to upgrade. The iPhone 7 is rumored to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack, antenna bands and the protruding rear camera.
Apple is also expected to include a dual-camera setup in the 5.5-inch model of the iPhone 7. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview with Jim Cramer of CNBC’s Mad Money show that the future iPhones will have “things you can’t live without.” He said consumers will look back and wonder “How did I live without this?” A new leak Chinese microblogging site Weibo suggests that the next-gen iPhone will pack a slightly larger battery.
