More than half of Ukrainians update their smartphones only once every four to five years. For a quarter of users, the question of buying one is not even an issue, because they receive new phones as gifts.
More than half of Ukrainians update their smartphones only once every four to five years. For a quarter of users, the question of buying one is not even an issue, because they receive new phones as gifts.
According to a press release from Rakuten Viber, the survey on the messenger’s corporate channel covered approximately 40,000 users. The results showed that 55% of respondents change their smartphone only once every few years, 27% admitted that they usually do not buy phones themselves, but receive them from relatives or friends. Another 17% update their gadget once every two to four years, and 1% belong to the category of «early adopters» and buy a new model once every year to a year and a half.
The survey also provided insight into the use of other devices. The most common additional device among Ukrainians is a laptop (33%). This is followed by a desktop computer (16%), and 14% of users regularly use tablets. Smartwatches were the choice of 5% of respondents. At the same time, 29% of Ukrainians admitted that they do not have any other gadgets at all and use only their phone.
The research methodology is based on an anonymous online survey. The main age group is 34–45 years old, with more than half of the respondents under 45 years old.
The demand for new gadgets in Ukraine has significantly decreased after 2022. The reasons were war, economic instability, and falling income levels. If until 2022 the average smartphone replacement cycle was approximately 2-3 years, now Ukrainians strive to use their technology for as long as possible.
Despite this, the smartphone remains the main digital device for most citizens. It is used to access banking services, government applications («Diya»), social networks, work with documents, and study. Market experts predict that in the coming years the smartphone will remain the key center of the digital life of Ukrainians, while additional gadgets (laptops or tablets) are considered more like auxiliary tools.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how approximately 40% of Ukrainians spend at least four hours on their phones every day, mostly chatting on messengers and making calls. These are the results of a survey conducted by Rakuten Viber among users of its official channel in Ukraine.
