Apple has once again managed to capture the JD Power & Associates award for best smartphone. The company’s satisfaction survey has now been won seven consecutive times thanks to the company’s iPhone series of devices.
According to the survey’s results:
“As smartphone users place increasingly complex demands on the functionality of their devices, satisfaction with battery performance is becoming a critical factor in overall satisfaction as well as brand loyalty.”
The announcement was made via the Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction StudySM–Volume 1.
According to the company the iPhone ranked highest for battery life before recharging, the most important aspect for many smartphone users.
JD Power found that smartphone battery performance decreased it satisfaction since the last survey with 4G-enabled smartphone users reporting performance of 6.1 on a 10 point scale while 3G smartphones scored a moderate 6.7.
The 4G issue is likely to fix itself as more networks are built. At this time 4G enabled phones use more battery life simply searching for scarce 4G networks in many areas. 4G users also tend to email, browse the web and talk on their Smartphones more which causes battery life issues.
According to Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates:
“Both carriers and manufacturers recognize the fact that battery life needs to be improved. However, the study uncovers the need for a greater sense of urgency–short battery life can result in perceived phone problems, higher rates of merchandise returns and customer defections.”
In terms of Apple’s performance with the company’s first 4G smartphone finally available on the market the company managed to score an overall rating of 839 on a 1,000-point scale while HTC followed with a final score of 798 on the same 1,000-point scale.
In terms of non-Smartphone based devices LG and Sanyo ended in a tie with 716 out of 1000 points while Sony Ericsson took the next spot at 712 points and Samsung rounded out the top ranking with a final score of 703.
In a positive uptrend smartphone users are now access web based applications more readily with 70% of users access socialnetworks and 72% downloading videos and movies. 59% of users also say they now use voice recognition software and command dialing applications.
Of course smartphones are far from perfect with 21% of users reporting device malfunction. JD Power & Associates state that device manufacturers lost 77 points on average from users who had to deal with device malfunction issues. If a device crashed once or more a week the average response was just 691.
The 2012 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study–Volume 1 and the mobile phone equivalent known as the 2012 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study–Volume 1 are based on results reported by 7,080 smartphone owners and 8,335 traditional mobile phone owners.
Results were taken from July 2011 to December 2011.
Are you surprised that Apple has managed seven consecutive wins in the Smartphone category or is it a well deserved placement?