iPhone 7 Plus tops customer satisfaction survey

By

iPhone 7 Plus lineup
The iPhone X didn't get the best score on the latest ACSI survey, it was the iPhone 7 Plus instead.
Image: Apple

The iPhone X is the world’s best-selling smartphone, but it’s an older Apple model that scored highest on the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

The iPhone 7 Plus beat out all of the newer iOS models, and solidly outscored the iPhone X. Naturally, it also trounced every Android device.

Specifically, the 7 Plus garnered an 85 ACSI score, while the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus both scored 83. The elderly iPhone 6 Plus was in there swinging with an 82 score. The X had an 80 score, tied with a raft of other Apple models, including the iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

“For iPhone users, the features of the X model are not enough to offset the cost,” stated the ACSI report. The iPhone 7 Plus currently starts at $669, compared to the $999 starting price for Apple’s flagship model.

Nevertheless, the iPhone X is Apple’s best-selling model. This device didn’t launch until November, while the ACSI survey kicked off in April of last year. Perhaps this late arrival pushed down the X’s score. 

Android ACSI survey scores

Last year’s Samsung Galaxy S8+ and S8 were the best performing Android models, with scores of 84 and 83, respectively. The newer Galaxy S9 March debut apparently made it too late to factor in this year’s ACSI survey.

The LG did well, pulling in an 81 score. It outperformed all the older Samsung models.

Apple came out on top in overall satisfaction, narrowly beating Samsung just as it did in last year’s survey. Motorola, LG, and and HTC rounded out they top 5.

Results of the 2018 ACSI Survey

The ACSI Telecommunications Report 2018 is based on interviews with 45,292 customers, chosen at random and contacted via email between April 19, 2017, and March 17, 2018.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.