A new survey reveals that most US smartphone owners are not swayed by foldable designs or AI features when considering an upgrade. Instead, practical concerns like cost and battery performance remain the primary motivators. The findings come from recent polling of over 2,400 adults.
CNET commissioned YouGov to survey 2,486 US adults between April 29 and May 1, 2026, with 2,407 smartphone owners responding. Price emerged as the top factor, cited by 55 percent of participants, followed by longer battery life at 52 percent and additional storage at 38 percent. These priorities have remained consistent compared to surveys from 2024 and 2025.
