Market penetration is one of the core overall measures affecting all manner of technology companies: hardware, software, services, and support. The key device types measured in this analysis are the active use of a home computer, an employer-provided “work” computer, or any other computer, such as one supplied by a university or in a library, cybercafé, or owned by a friend or neighbor. The primary measure reported in this TUPdate is the percentage of online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, or China actively using any of these computers.
Approach: This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 82,101 respondents in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China from 2019 through 2024. In the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to identify the active installed base of connected devices they use – smartphones, feature phones, computers, tablets, and game consoles. In addition, we had them specify the source of funds for the computers they use – home, work (employer-provided), or other (public, school, library, cybercafe, friend, etc.)
The shock undermining monoculture or ecosystem dominance
The recent cybersecurity event involving Microsoft and Crowdstrike garnered much attention. It also renewed concern among consumers who may worry their Windows devices will be next to fail.
This TUPdate double-clicks on the devices people use in addition to a single computer, smartphone, or tablet. It splits out the share of online adults around the world (in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China) who use a computer, Windows 11 PC, Windows 10 or earlier PC, or Apple computer by the percentage of those who use other devices such as iPhones or Android tablets. It splits out the share of smartphone, iPhone, and Android smartphone users who use computers with Windows 11, 10, or earlier versions, Apple computers, iPads, or Android tablets. It also reports the multi-year shift in how many devices people use regularly. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0723_mono] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Technology Ecosystems
Gen Z and Millennials continue trend as most substantial consumers of print services
People find ways to get documents printed even if they don’t have access to a printer at home or in their workplace. Print services at retail outlets have been joined by online services as being one alternative. However, these services have only reached a small percentage of adults. Later generations have been the main ones to use these print services, even continuing after an early pandemic surge.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who regularly use a print service: a self-serve store kiosk, retail printing outlet, and online printing service. The results are split by age generation and country: US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0329_sert] in TUP Lenses: Printers; User Profile
Printer usage declines among most countries and generations with Gen Z unlikely to restart
In most countries surveyed, Gen Z began adulthood actively including printers among their technological devices. As they have matured, however, their printer usage has dropped at similar rates to millennials and Gen X. Adults in Germany have maintained the highest printer penetration rates among the countries surveyed, and those in the UK are the lowest.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults actively using at least one printer. This information is split by country (US, Germany, UK, Japan, China) and age generation (Gen Z, millennial, Gen X, Boomer/Silent Generation). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0328_prtt] in TUP Lenses: Printers; User Profile
Gen Z adults and millennials continue expanding smartphone usage
Smartphone usage continues to rise, as evidenced by the hours they are regularly used. Later generations are the most intensive smartphone users, increasingly incorporating the devices into their daily lives. While Gen X has been expanding its use, this later generation still trails millennials and Gen Z adults across all countries surveyed.
This MetaFAQs reports on the average (mean) hours per week adults use smartphones, split by age generation and country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0326_hout] in TUP Lenses: Devices; Mobile Phones; User Profile
US persists in having fewer employed online adults
The workforce has shifted strongly following the onset of the pandemic, affected by remote working, seesawing employer and national responses, and economic reverberations. In the US, there has been a persistent and noticeable shift from full-time or part-time employment to self-employed or gig working. Among the countries surveyed, Germany has the smallest share of online adults in the labor force.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults employed (full-time or part-time) and those in the labor force (employed, self-employed, or currently unemployed). The data from 2017 through 2023 is split by country: US, Germany, UK, and Japan. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0324_empt] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Households
Younger, not youngest, adults continue with most device hours
Before the pandemic, adults worldwide started spending less time with connected devices. Americans, Germans, Britons, and Japanese have continued that downward trend. In particular, younger adults (aged 18 to 24) have lowered their usage the most, dropping by 16% in the UK and 15% in Japan. Older adults (aged 50 and up) have also reduced usage, leaving only the adults aged 25 to 49 showing a few growth spots and otherwise cutting back.
This MetaFAQs reports the average (mean) weekly hours adults use their connected devices – smartphones, computers, and tablets – split by country and age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0319_yhrt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; User Profile
Younger workers extend remote working trend
The early pandemic shift to working remotely remains an expectation among workers across more than one developed country. Over the last three years, most workers in nearly every country surveyed expect to continue working remotely. The age gap is widening, with the highest share of remote work expectations among younger workers.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online workers across the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China who expect to work remotely one year in the future, split by those aged 18 to 39 and those aged 40 and above. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0318_owft] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Work/Life Balance
Remote workers continue paying own phone bills
Smartphones have become a workhorse for many workers, facilitating their ability to work remotely. However, the share of employers who help pay the phone bills is nominal. In 2020, employers paid for a higher share of workers, and that share has declined since then.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of workers who have their phone service charges paid for or reimbursed by their employers, split by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0316_empt] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; Work/Life Balance
Online workforces continue to decline
The labor market status is a major macroeconomic factor in understanding and measuring market demand. Technology products such as computers and smartphones are susceptible to these economic shifts. Fewer workers mean fewer duplicated resources, such as workers using a home-owned computer as well as one that is provided by their employer. Also, a smaller workforce can mean slower economic growth overall, to the extent that there is less earned income in the economy. The advent of gig workers in some countries, many of whom identify as self-employed, has also expanded the labor pool to some extent.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who are employed full-time, part-time, or self-employed by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0314_empt] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Households