Expensive Smartphones Lead to 'Upgrade Regret' for 20% of Users; Familiarity and Data Migration are Key Pitfalls

Smartphones have become an essential part of daily life, acting as 'always-connected tools' for communication, information gathering, payments, and entertainment. However, as high-end models frequently exceed 100,000 yen, more users are reconsidering their upgrade cycles and device selection strategies. Many feel that the new device did not meet their expectations.

In response, X-Mobile, a provider of smartphone rental services, conducted a joint survey with Plust on 500 men and women aged 20-59 across Japan regarding smartphone upgrades. The survey explored experiences of regret, reasons for upgrading, and satisfaction levels.

■ Over 20% have experienced 'Upgrade Regret'
The survey found that 23.0% of respondents (5.0% 'often', 18.0% 'sometimes') have felt regret after upgrading their phones. While about 80% reported no such experience, more than one in five users encounter a gap between expectations and reality.

■ 'Battery Degradation' is the top reason at 61.0%
The most common reason for upgrading was 'battery degradation' (61.0%). This was followed by 'malfunctions/defects' (28.4%), 'campaign incentives' (16.4%), 'screen/body damage' (14.4%), and 'insufficient capacity' (13.2%). Conversely, active motivators such as 'interest in the latest models' (7.2%) and 'camera performance' (4.8%) were in the minority, suggesting that most upgrades are necessitated by physical limitations.