Batteries Plus Bulbs today released the results of a nationwide survey with Kelton Research that evaluated the main issues consumers face in regards to their electronic devices—battery life and damage. The survey reveals 39 percent of sampled Americans are currently using broken smartphones, with 56 percent of that group stating poor battery life as their number one issue. Results also show nine in 10 Americans have at least one electronic device that runs out of battery power sooner than expected, with smartphones draining the quickest according to 57 percent of those surveyed.
With nearly two in five Americans admitting their smartphone is currently in need of repair, most have settled with living with a less-than-fully-functioning device to avoid high replacement costs and the hassle of sending it somewhere to get fixed. In fact:
More than half—56 percent—cite cost as the number one reason they haven’t had their smartphone fixed
• 31 percent haven’t repaired their damaged device because it is still usable
• 25 percent would rather live with a damaged device versus spending the time or money trying to get it repaired
• 13 percent aren’t aware of a retail store they would trust to do a repair
• 12 percent don’t want to spend the time waiting for it to get fixed and being without their phone
“While summer is a busy time for smartphone and tablet usage with quite a few Americans traveling, we’re surprised so many people are operating with impaired or otherwise compromised devices,” said Russ Reynolds, CEO of Batteries Plus Bulbs, in a statement. “What this survey tells us is people are hesitant to repair their smartphones and tablets because of a lack of education and awareness of the array of options available to easily fix these devices. In fact, we completed our own independent study among iPhone owners and found — of the 1,000 polled — 61.4 percent don’t even know the battery can be replaced.”
According to the Kelton survey, the most common issues those with a broken smartphone face aside from poor battery life are cracked screens (30 percent) and charge port issues (22 percent). However, with almost two thirds of respondents reporting insufficient battery life, this is a key issue most likely affecting more people beyond those surveyed.
“What many Americans don’t realize is that for trained technicians, replacing smartphone batteries is a relatively easy process and it’s significantly cheaper for the consumer than purchasing a new phone,” said Oz Rahman, VP of Quality Assurance & Repair Operations at Batteries Plus Bulbs, in a statement. “When faced with a quick draining battery, have it tested first. It’s often not reflective of a device’s overall lifespan, and the battery replacement process can prevent the purchase of an entirely new device.”
The survey also exposed a wide array of ways in which Americans admitted to damaging their smartphones:
• 25 percent noted they threw it out of frustration
• 24 percent admitted to dropping it in the toilet
• Nearly 1 in 5 confessed they were unable to remember how their device was damaged because they were drinking
This survey was conducted by Kelton Global online among 1,000 nationally representative Americans age 18 and over, with a margin of error of +/-3.1 percent. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. Population age 18 and over.
MacDailyNews Note: More info and pricing for Apple’s iPhone repair services:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “David E.” for the heads up.]
