2021 Holiday Tech Report: 53% Of People Want an iPhone, but Can They Get One?

Americans plan on spending a whopping $142.5 billion on tech products and services this holiday season. Approximately 191.3 million adults in that group intend to purchase technology as gifts. But there's one slight problem in the equation: chip shortages! Yes, that two-word phrase we all hate to hear could play the role of Grinch this Christmas. 

WhistleOut was curious to find how tech shopping was shaking out this holiday season in light of chip shortages and supply chain issues. We asked 1,000 Americans about their tech shopping wants, woes, and worries to find out.

Christmas Shopping Looks Different in 2021

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In these unprecedented times—don’t you hate it when people start sentences that way? Forget that; let’s look on the bright side of things this holiday season. About 66% of Americans plan on doing their shopping online this year, with 43% of online shoppers saying they’d online shop mostly from their phone.

Perhaps the remaining 34% of folks are still nostalgic for the Jingle All The Way nightmare of desperately going from store to store to find the right toy. 

The Most Popular Christmas Present in 2021: Apple iPhone

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When we asked Americans which tech items they were hoping to receive or purchase for themselves this holiday season, these were the gadgets Americans listed most: 

1. iPhone (various models): 53%
2. Samsung Galaxy (various models): 38%
3. Video games: 13%
4. Airfryer: 12%
5. Playstation 5: 11%

Over 53% of people want an iPhone for Christmas, more than half of the country. Compared to the Furbies and Tickle-Me-Elmo’s of the past, the iPhone caters to everybody, not just kids. Realistically, you can get the same present (an iPhone) for your partner, kid, and grandmother, and they would all be over the moon to receive it. When was the last time a gift like that existed?

Specifically, 41% of people who want a new iPhone want a brand new iPhone 13. Hopefully, all of those people have been extra nice this year because an iPhone 13 ain’t cheap. The smartest way to pull off the gift of the year is to take advantage of one of the holiday deals from a wireless carrier that can hook you up with a new iPhone 13 for free. But you better act quickly if you want to get it done because of the *jump-scare sound* chip shortage!

Chip Shortages and Supply Chain Issues, Oh My!

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Expectations are high as ever for Christmas gifts, but getting ahold of those gifts will be challenging this year. Here’s a breakdown of the Supply Chain and Chip Shortage issues shoppers are reporting this year:

• 53% have had items they want go out of stock
• 33% have had packages delayed, not getting here in time for the holidays
• 19% have experienced items they want being unavailable or delayed due specifically to the computer chip shortage

More than 53% of shoppers noticed items they wanted going out of stock before having a chance to purchase. If we just single out folks trying to buy a PlayStation 5, the chances are that percentage would be pretty close to 100%, speaking from personal experience.

On top of that, 33% of shoppers are reporting package delays that are pushing arrival dates until after Christmas. Now that you know, you should have ample time to think of an excuse for why Santa Claus arrived late (GPS problems, reindeer unionization, COVID health-and-safety protocols, etc.).

Holidays & Stress: An Iconic Duo

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The high demand and low supply of tech gifts combine to make a somewhat stressful Christmas.

• 39% say that Christmas shopping is more stressful now than last year
• 42% are worried their packages won’t get here in time for the holidays 

Fingers crossed, you can work some holiday magic and find the iPhone, PS5, Xbox, or tech gift that your loved one wants this year.

Making Christmas Work

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So how are shoppers dealing with the aforementioned challenges? Americans had some pretty interesting solutions. Here’s a breakdown of the ways people were dealing:

• 36% are ordering items online earlier than usual
• 29% have settled for different makes, models or brands of the item(s) they want
• 26% are purchasing item(s) from resellers or secondhand
• 24% are waiting until after the holidays to receive the item(s) they want 
• 10% have used a bot to get the item(s) they want online

Many Americans are relying on digital gifts this year, no doubt due to supply chain issues and worries. In fact, 26% say at least half of the gifts they buy this year will be digital. (Think digital gift cards, apps, classes, subscriptions, audio or e-books, video games, online memberships, streaming services, etc.)

Methodology

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WhistleOut distributed a survey online via Pollfish about holiday tech shopping to a sample of 1,000 U.S. adults on December 13, 2021. The survey has a margin of error of ± 4% and a 95% confidence level.

This content was produced by WhistleOut and is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Apple, Sony, Samsung, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.