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.)
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
Growing use of refurbished tech varies by country and age generation
The active use of used or refurbished technology is a growing practice among most countries surveyed. However, there are generational trends that differ from one country to another. In the US, later generations (Gen Z) have higher rates of using used or refurbished home computers or smartphones. In contrast, in the UK and Japan, different age generations have higher usage rates of used or refurbished home computers or smartphones.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of smartphone users who use a used or refurbished smartphone, the percentage of home computer users who use a used or refurbished computer, and details the trend from 2019 to 2023 by country and age generation. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0312_reft] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; User Profile; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Apple’s consistently youthful multi-product customers
Across the US, UK, and China, adults actively use an average of 0.9 Apple OS devices (iPhones, iPads, or Macs). Users in the US consistently lead in the number of Apple devices in use, while the UK has shown the highest recent increase. Germany’s average is lower but has risen since 2017. Younger adults have more Apple devices on average, and successively older adults use fewer. Notably, German adults aged 18 to 24 have the highest mean number of devices, a sharp increase since 2021.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of adults with two or more Apple OS devices from 2017 to 2023, revealing market penetration trends. The statistics are split by country and age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0307_2apt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems
A smartphone and home computer persist as top device combo
Home computers have been challenged recently as many adults have been shifting their activities to smartphones. However, combining a home computer and a smartphone without a tablet is the most widely used combination of connected devices. This combination has reached a larger share of online adults in the US, Germany, and China than in 2018. Older adults have played a large part in sustaining home computer penetration even while more in this group are using smartphones.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of adults using a smartphone, home computer, and not a tablet split by country and age group. Results are based on surveys with 66,955 respondents. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0306_comt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets
Americans continue trend with more smartphone than computer hours
There is a certain stability among Americans, at least when it comes to the many hours they use connected devices. Since 2019, Americans used a collection of connected devices – computers, smartphones, and tablets – for more than 10 billion weekly hours. This number has remained largely steady in total, although it has shifted between the types of devices Americans use. Computers have continued to decline in use as Americans increasingly turn to smartphones.
This MetaFAQs reports on the millions of weekly hours Americans use smartphones, computers, and tablets, as well as the mean hours they use these devices. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0304_hout] in TUP Lenses: Devices, Mobile Phones, PCs, Tablets