Skip to main content

Most people don’t want the new Apple Watch, according to a new survey

apple watch to come with power reserve time only mode hands on 7
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple may still be basking in the glow of fame and glory since announcing its new Apple Watch on Tuesday, but not everyone thinks the smartwatch is so hot. A new survey by Tolunda QuickSurveys of 1,000 Americans suggests that, among other insights, that most people are “very unlikely” to buy the new Apple Watch.

Most don’t want the new Apple Watch

The highlight of Tolunda’s survey comes from its questions about Apple’s unveiling of the new Apple Watch during its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus keynote. While the 1019 respondents mostly said they were “impressed” by the Apple Watch, the majority said they were still unlikely to buy it. Some 36 percent said they definitely would not buy the Apple Watch, 20 percent said they would probably not, and only 10 percent of respondents said they’d definitely buy the new Apple Watch. This response is a far cry from the standing ovation that the Apple Watch received from its audience in Cupertino’s Flint Center.

Recommended Videos

Related: Hands on: Apple’s watch changes everything. Or does it?

The survey did not ask specifically why its respondents did not want the new Apple Watch, but there are certainly several possible reasons, including its price, square shape or that most people are not yet ready for smartwatches. Tolunda’s survey did note, though, that most people either have “no opinion” on the new smartwatch’s overall design, or that it doesn’t look “much different from other smartwatches.” No particular feature of the Apple Watch stood out as the best among respondents, though many said they did like the size of the device, its health features, and customization.

The iPhone 6 remains a hit

While the Apple Watch didn’t receive much praise from the survey, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus still impressed the survey’s respondents.  According to Tolunda’s Survey, 53 percent of respondents were impressed by their first look at the pair of smartphones, which will hit stores next week. Some 42 percent also said they were satisfied by the new features, feeling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are worthy successors to last year’s iPhone 5S and 5C.

When it comes to features, it seems the larger screen and faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity were the two most popular features on the new iPhones. Despite being one of the most popular features though, 63 percent would still buy the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, as opposed to its larger, 5.5-inch cousin. It seems in any case that customers like having a sense of choice in size.

Related: Apple makes it official, announces 5.5-inch iPhone 6

One final interesting piece of information from the survey is about conversion. Of the respondents who own an Android device, only 9 percent said they’d be willing to switch, suggesting that the majority who like and want the new iPhone are already iPhone owners themselves.

Tolunda’s survey went out less than 24 hours after Apple’s event, when it was fresh on everyone’s mind. Still that doesn’t mean the sentiment about either the iPhone 6 or Apple Watch will change once release day comes around. We’ll only know how well these gadgets sell once they hit the stores and we’re able to review the devices ourselves. It does seem that the Apple Watch, despite the hype, still has to prove its worth to consumers. Feel free to check out Tolunda’s infographic of the survey results below.

iPhone 6 survey inforgraphic
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Joshua Sherman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joshua Sherman is a contributor for Digital Trends who writes about all things mobile from Apple to Zynga. Josh pulls his…
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Go big or go home?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Apple officially unveiled the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max as the top choices for the ultimate iPhone experience. Both pack Apple's most powerful phone hardware yet, almost reaching the level of Apple's M series Mac chips.

But the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have little to differentiate them apart from their size. Apple splits the Pro series into two classes: big Pro and little Pro models. With different-sized bodies, the aspects that obviously vary are the size of the screen, as wello as the phones' heft, and battery capacities. But is there more to this than immediately meets the eye? Is there a reason to buy the Pro Max if you normally prefer smaller phones, or vice versa?

Read more
Tim Cook wants you to know he’s confident in Apple’s AI future
Apple's September 2023 event Tim Cook

If you own an iPhone 16 series, you likely purchased it to be among the first to use Apple Intelligence. However, a month after the latest iPhones were released, this highly anticipated AI suite from the largest company in the world has not yet been released to the public. Tim Cook thinks the wait will be worth it.

In a long-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Apple CEO defends his company’s speed at which it is introducing AI into its products. He also sees a bright future for Apple Vision, even though the first product in a likely series of alternate reality devices, the very expensive Apple Vision Pro, has largely failed to catch on with most users.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: Upgrade time?
apple iphone 16 pro max vs 14 thumb

It’s been two years since Apple launched the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which ushered in a new era for Apple with the revamped Dynamic Island and the addition of an Always-On display (AOD). In the two years since, Apple has pushed on the Pro Max range to include not only these features, but also a range of new hybrid experiences. These include the Action Button -- which replaced the Mute switch -- and new for the iPhone 16 series, the Camera Control button, which helps unlock some of the new and upcoming features of the camera.

Then there's the push for AI. In the two years since Apple launched the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the AI era has descended upon us, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is one of the first iPhones built with Apple Intelligence in mind. If you’ve got an iPhone 14 Pro Max, is now the time to upgrade? Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max worth upgrading to? Let’s dive into the details.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: specs

Read more