78% of Americans agree that tech brands focus on flashy features over practicality, contributing to a growing 'feature fatigue' as brands pressure annual smartphone upgrades. AI-fuelled RAM price hikes are…
US
Retail
Technology
simple
US Researching and Buying Technology Devices Consumer Report 2026
78% of Americans agree that tech brands focus on flashy features over practicality, contributing to a growing 'feature fatigue' as brands pressure annual smartphone upgrades.
Outlook for researching and buying technology devices
Opportunities
Make AI your 24/7 sales associate
Design for durability and DIY
Refurbish, resell, repeat
THE MARKET
Consumers may bear the brunt of AI’s rise as RAM prices skyrocket
Right to Repair gains momentum, forcing manufacturers to innovate and think long term
AI shopping assistants could change the purchase journey
THE CONSUMER
What consumers want from tech
Consumers seek technology that simplifies daily life and supports personal growth
From entertainment to productivity, 18-54 year olds expect more from tech
Graph 1: what consumers want from technology, by age, 2025
Who is driving the demand for skill-building and hobby-focused tech?
Google’s ad captures the intersection of fatherhood and technology
Younger consumers and men seek next-level entertainment tech
Graph 2: consumer desire for tech to enhance their entertainment experience, by age and gender, 2025
Purchase intent and motivators to upgrade
Smartphones remain the most sought-after device
Graph 3: device purchase intent, 2025
Turn tech enthusiasm into real conversions
Marketing boosts awareness, but device failures and sales drive the purchase cycle
Graph 4: scenarios that would prompt a purchase by device type (% of consumers), 2025
Tailor strategies to meet the unique needs of every audience
Sales and discounts motivate consumers of all ages to buy a new smartphone
Graph 5: scenarios that would prompt a smartphone purchase, by age, 2025
Smartphone purchase drivers are nuanced, marketing strategies should reflect that
Position tech devices as practical gifts for large households
Graph 6: “I’d consider buying a tech device for someone else (eg as a gift for a friend/family member)” (% agree), by number of children in the household, 2025
Research and decision-making behavior
Tech shopping is still an omni-channel experience for many
Meet the demand for instant information among younger tech shoppers
Graph 7: steps taken when shopping for tech, by age, 2025
Don’t overlook the power of community-driven platforms in multicultural marketing
Graph 8: steps taken when shopping for tech, by race or ethnicity, 2025
AI shopping assistants can enhance the tech buying experience
Graph 9: how consumers want AI to help the tech shopping process, by age, 2025
Go beyond generic AI assistants, tailor tools to meet the needs of diverse consumer segments
Current AI users view it as a tool to break through the clutter
Bridge the gap between online convenience and in-store trust
Graph 10: shopping in person attitudes (% agree), by age, 2025
Meet your target audience where they’re at
Major tech purchases may be more resistant to the pressure of impulse consumerism
Graph 11: research timeline attitudes (% agree), by age, 2025
Barriers to purchase
Rapid releases, social circles, and brand loyalty complicate the purchase journey
Flashy feature fatigue is real
Support tech shoppers who rely on self-research and price comparisons
Graph 12: steps taken when shopping for tech (select), those who agree “I have a go-to person in my life for tech-related questions” vs overall, 2025
Tech shoppers 18-54 stick with what they know
Graph 13: “I usually upgrade to the latest model of the same brand (eg iPhone 16 to iPhone 17, PS4 to PS5) rather than switching brands” (% agree), by age, 2025
How can brands push consumers to switch allegiances?
Samsung’s bold play to win over Apple users
Subscription models
For subscription models to flourish, brands must overcome resistance to ongoing payments
Make subscriptions more appealing with risk-free offers
Graph 14: what factors would make consumers more likely to opt-in to a device’s subscription service, 2025
Transparency and reliability can make subscriptions more appealing to men
Graph 15: what factors would make consumers more likely to opt-in to a device’s subscription service (select), by gender, 2025
Middle-aged men and older women want a pause option
Graph 16: importance of ‘the ability to pause the subscription when not in use’ as a factor to make consumers more likely to opt-in to a device’s subscription service, by age and gender, 2025
A clear value proposition can be a selling point for financially secure consumers
Graph 17: importance of ‘a clear explanation of the subscription’s value’ as a factor to make consumers more likely to opt-in to a device’s subscription service, by financial situation, 2025
WHOOP’s free trial lowers barriers to subscription adoption
What consumers do with old tech
Consumers are seeing the value in refurbished tech and repurposing old devices
Convert interest into purchases among older consumers
Graph 18: refurbished device attitudes (% agree), by age, 2025
Consumer demand for usable, repairable smartphones could open doors for refurbished tech players
Back Market’s global campaign tackles the fast tech crisis
While consumers 18-54 explore resale platforms for electronics, purchasing new still leads the way
Graph 19: electronics purchased/sold in the past 12 months, by age, 2025
Help consumers reimagine the role of their old devices
Graph 20: even after upgrading, I find new uses for my old devices (eg setting up a second screen) (% agree), by age, 2025
Old tech can learn new tricks, especially with social media tutorials
INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Oura frames wearable tech as an investment in longevity
Review platforms help shape consumer confidence in tech purchases
Lowe’s and Best Buy are using VR to enhance the shopping experience
Tech the halls: Best Buy highlights tech as the perfect family gift
Opportunity for apps that give new life to discarded devices
Leverage influencers to showcase the value of refurbished tech
Apple highlights how tech advancements create real impact
US Technology Purchase Process – Consumer Trends and Insights
78% of Americans agree that tech brands focus on flashy features over practicality, contributing to a growing ‘feature fatigue’ as brands pressure annual smartphone upgrades. AI-fuelled RAM price hikes are raising BOM (bill of materials) costs across consumer electronics and squeezing promotional margins.
With manufacturers prioritizing AI-centric data centers and components, retailers face a more constrained landscape for both price cuts and product configurations, feeding inflationary pressures downstream to end-users.
Amid omni-channel complexity, consumers are recalibrating how, and where, they place their trust. A pronounced 82% of 18-54s agree that buying tech in-store feels more trustworthy, even as engagement with AI shopping assistants online climbs. While these digital tools can bridge the trust gap by offering guided, tailored journeys, they must contend with high expectations for transparency, practical decision support, and post-purchase value.
As consumers increasingly seek repairable and durable options, an opportunity emerges for refurbished tech players. Longer product lifecycles not only meet this growing demand, but also position brands as sustainability leaders. Additionally, many consumers are finding new purposes for their old devices, creating space for brands to innovate and build loyalty by thinking outside the box and helping consumers reimagine new uses for their old devices.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
What consumers want from technology
Purchase intent and motivators to upgrade
How consumers research and evaluate tech devices before buying
Challenges and obstacles preventing tech purchases
Insights into subscription models and strategies to enhance their appeal
Consumer behavior around old devices and attitudes toward refurbished tech
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