68 pc consumers prioritise AI features while buying smartphones

New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) AI becomes central to smartphone purchases, as 68 per cent consumers prioritised AI features and 82 per cent said transparent data practices and trust as key drivers of smartphone purchases, a report said on Monday.

The report from CyberMedia Research (CMR) said 61 per cent consumers believed on‑device AI processing improved responsiveness and privacy.

The firm said AI is now a core purchase driver with consumers preferring performance (78 per cent), camera quality including AI enhancements (70 per cent) and strong AI features (59 per cent) as the top three attributes.

AI ranked ahead of design, price, and battery life in terms of purchase drivers.

When choosing between similarly-priced smartphones, 60 per cent of consumers wanted a balance of AI and strong hardware, unwilling to sacrifice either.

While 25 per cent are outright AI-first buyers, while only 15 per cent remained hardware traditionalists.

"AI is no longer viewed as an added feature; it is increasingly shaping the overall device experience. Across demographics and price segments, consumers expect AI that is useful, intuitive, and seamlessly integrated into everyday interactions," said Prabhu Ram, VP – Industry Research Group (IRG), CyberMedia Research (CMR).

As these expectations evolve, AI capabilities will play a growing role in smartphone differentiation and purchase decisions going forward, Ram added.