Artificial intelligence has become a selling point for almost every new smartphone. Samsung is pushing Galaxy AI on its S25 product line, Google is integrating Gemini into its Pixel series, and Apple is rolling out Apple Intelligence across iPhones.
But a survey of more than 2,200 U.S. adults shows that AI fails to convince most buyers to upgrade. Just 11% said they would buy a new device for its AI capabilities, down 7 points from last year. Nearly 3 in 10 respondents went further, saying that their phone’s AI is useless and that they would prefer fewer additional features.
According to CNet research, buyers continue to value more traditional features. Price remained the top factor for 62% of respondents, with 54% citing battery life, 39% citing storage, and 3 in 10 citing camera performance. These same areas topped last year’s survey, suggesting that despite the industry’s push toward AI, consumer priorities remain the same.
Usage data highlights the gap between promotion and adoption. Just 13% of smartphone owners said they rely on AI for writing and text summaries. Fewer people still use image generation or photo editing tools. One in five people admit that they don’t know how to use the AI tools already built into their phones.
Privacy and cost are additional barriers. More than 40% of respondents expressed concerns about how AI handles data, an increase from last year. Despite companies considering charging for premium services, half said they would not pay extra for AI features.
Younger consumers are showing slightly more interest. One in four Gen Z respondents said mobile AI features would be helpful, compared to 16% of Millennials. But even among iPhone and Pixel owners, daily use of assistants like Siri and Gemini remains limited.
This finding highlights a clear reality. AI may be ubiquitous in marketing campaigns, but for consumers, smartphones are still judged by price, battery performance, storage, and camera quality. So far, practicality continues to exceed expectations for artificial intelligence.
