While carriers and handset makers are still keen to push for 5G networks to get off the ground as soon as possible, a new study shows that consumer interest in 5G networks is cutting back significantly in favor of other features.
Since the addition of 5G network support in iPhone 12, Apple has included 5G models in all subsequent models. Apple also recently added support for 5G networks to the cellular version of the iPad. The latest survey found that consumers are more concerned about other features such as battery life and storage than the increased network speeds brought by 5G.
Canalys analyst Chiew Le Xuan said that for many people, 4G is fast enough to “meet daily use. The hype for 5G has died down and demand has shifted to more practical aspects of smartphones, such as battery life, storage, processor speed and camera quality,” the analyst said.
The report also points out that inflation may be behind the lack of 5G growth, and that 5G networks are still expected to buck the trend in Asia in the coming years. But 5G support can still be spotty, and many believe there is no longer a need to iterate.
William Hare, an analyst at technology research firm Omdia, said, “Despite the introduction of 5G network support, there is essentially not much difference between the iPhone now and the iPhone purchased five years ago, and innovation has slowed massively.”
