Apple (AAPL -0.14%) launched the long-anticipated iPhone X last Friday, and diehard fans lined up to claim the priciest iPhone ever. However, Ebates' latest holiday survey indicates that demand for device varies widely between adults and teens in the U.S.
Most adults surveyed preferred Samsung's (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF) Galaxy S8 as a holiday gift instead of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X. However, most teens favored the iPhone X and iPhone 8 over the other two phones.
Data sources: Ebates and Propeller Insights. Chart by author.
That difference is surprising, since adults have more spending power than teens. An unlocked Galaxy S8 costs $720-$750; the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus start at $699 and $799, respectively; and the iPhone X starts at $999.
But there are other considerations. The S8 still offers a headphone jack and a fingerprint scanner -- popular features the iPhone X lacks. Yet trend-conscious teens don't seem to care.
Piper Jaffray's latest teen survey found that 82% of teens expect their next phone to be an iPhone, up from 81% in the spring. That loyalty should persist well into adulthood, as Apple locks them into its iOS ecosystem.
