Next iPhone sees "unprecedented demand" in advance of reveal

For a device that's not even been formally confirmed to exist by its manufacturer, Apple's next iPhone is certainly making a splash in ChangeWave's most recent report. Asking 4,042 citizens of "mostly" North America this June, ChangeWave found that 14 percent were "very likely" to purchase whatever phone Apple released next for themselves or for someone else. This device is referred to as the iPhone 5 in the study and has already trumped demand for the iPhone 4S according to studies the group did in advance of that device.

Demand for the next iPhone far outweighs what ChangeWave has recorded as demand for the Samsung Galaxy S III, a device that's already out on the market on all major carriers in the USA. The Samsung Galaxy S III had just 2 percent of respondents saying they're very likely to purchase the device, with 7 percent saying they're somewhat likely. There is a "huge surge of momentum" coming from Samsung, on the other hand, with ChangeWave still saying it's nothing compared to Apple's next device release anticipation.

Paul Carton, vice president of research at ChangeWave, noted the following on the subject:

"Advance demand for the 'iPhone 5' is strikingly higher than we've seen for any previous iPhone model. ... Overall smartphone sales should spike to an all-time high this fall, and of course Apple is going to be the number one beneficiary, but besides Apple, and to a lesser degree Samsung, no other manufacturer is likely to benefit from this coming wave of demand." – Carton

Have a peek at the timeline below to see recent reports on the goings-on with the next generation iPhone, and prepare yourself for this Autumn when we're likely to see it!

[via 451Research]