iPhone Still Rules Teen Tech: 88% of U.S. Teens Own One, But Apple TV+ and Vision Pro Flop

Apple’s grip on teen smartphone culture in the U.S. is as strong as ever—if not stronger. According to Piper Sandler’s latest biannual teen survey, 88% of American teens own an iPhone, and an identical 88% plan to buy another as their next device. The iPhone’s dominance has grown steadily over the past decade, up from 66% ownership in 2015, reflecting a continued cultural lock-in among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

The Spring 2025 report polled 6,455 teens across 43 states, giving a broad snapshot of youth tech habits—and showing a clear split between Apple’s hardware success and its struggles in content and services.

iPhone: Still the Ultimate Teen Status Symbol

88% iPhone ownership among teens is near record levels.
A matching 88% of teens say their next phone will be an iPhone, indicating future retention remains high.
This marks a 3% increase in ownership since just April 2024.
Over the last decade, iPhone ownership among teens has grown by 22 percentage points.

Peer influence, iMessage exclusivity, and the ecosystem lock-in effect continue to drive Apple’s dominance among young users.

Apple’s Services: A Mixed Bag With Teens

While iPhones are flourishing, Apple’s services aren’t making the same impact:

Music Streaming

Spotify remains king with 65% of teens using it in some form.
45% pay for Spotify Premium, compared to:
30% paying for Apple Music, which is a distant second.

Spotify’s free tier is a major reason for its continued dominance, especially among price-sensitive younger users.

Video Streaming

Apple TV+ is barely on the radar, with less than 1% of teens saying they watch shows on it.
Netflix (31%) and YouTube (26%) are the most popular video platforms.
Even Disney+ and Hulu have more traction among teens than Apple’s offering.

VR: Teens Are Curious, But Not Hooked

Apple Vision Pro barely registers with this demographic:

Only 1% of teens own a Vision Pro, likely due to its premium $3,499 price tag.
31% of teens own any VR headset, but:
- 25% of those own a Meta/Oculus headset
- 60% of VR users say they rarely use it
- Only 4% use VR daily

That hints at a larger issue: teens may enjoy trying VR, but it’s far from essential in their daily tech lives.

Key Takeaways

The iPhone remains Apple’s teen stronghold, with virtually no sign of weakening.
Apple’s music and streaming services continue to lag, especially against free or more popular alternatives.
Teens are curious but underwhelmed by VR, and Vision Pro isn’t even in the conversation yet.

This data shows that while Apple’s hardware remains culturally dominant, it has a long way to go to win the battle for teen attention in services—and may need more aggressive pricing, content, or strategy shifts to do so.