Samsung Tops Apple 81-80 in ACSI Phone Satisfaction as Smartwatches Tie at 80
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · May 20
Samsung Tops Apple 81-80 in ACSI Phone Satisfaction as Smartwatches Tie at 80
6 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · May 20
ACSI’s 2026 study put Samsung ahead of Apple in overall cell phone satisfaction, 81 to 80, ending last year’s tie after Apple slipped one point.
26,963 surveys collected from April 2025 to March 2026 also found the overall phone category up 1% to 79, while AI feature performance debuted at a strong 85.
Samsung also led Apple in flagship phones, 84 versus 82, and dominated foldables with an 80 score, ahead of Google at 72 and Motorola at 70.
Smartwatches were tighter: Apple and Samsung tied at 80, with Apple flat year over year and Samsung down from 83, while the category held steady at 77.
The findings contrast with Apple’s recent earnings-call claims of 99% U.S. iPhone satisfaction from 451 Research, highlighting how methodology can shift the rankings.
With Apple finally entering the foldable market, will Samsung’s reign in customer satisfaction and market share survive the next wave of innovation?
As AI becomes essential in smartphones, could the next big satisfaction driver be something entirely unexpected—like sustainability or health integration?