HP has the highest printer share among nearly all American generations – HP leads the American online printer market, ahead of other brands in the active installed base. Among Gen Z Americans, however, there is solid competition. This MetaFAQs reports on the primary printer brand of online Americans by age generation. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1119_hppr] in TUP Lenses: Printers; User Profile
Game consoles are a youngster thing
Game consoles are a youngster thing – Using a game console to play games is much more prevalent among younger adults than older ones. That’s the case across all countries surveyed: the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Adults aged 25 to 34 have similar game console usage rates to those aged 18 to 24, which reflects the continued interest and habit energy of continued, if declining, use from younger ages. Playing games often have a social aspect, as groups of younger adults convene (in person or online) to play together. It’s important to note that game-playing with connected devices is widespread across all age groups, just less so by using game consoles and more so with computers, smartphones, and tablets.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults actively using a game console by age group and country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1117_cons] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Smartphone replacement sooner in the US, UK, and China, especially among later generations
Smartphone replacement sooner in the US, UK, and China, especially among later generations – Keeping smartphones fresh and new is the current practice of most online adults throughout the US, UK, and China. Half or more of the online adults in these countries acquired a smartphone within the last 18 months. Online adults in Germany and Japan, however, are keeping their smartphones longer. In these countries, nearer to three in eight online adults have phones this new. Typical German and Japanese cultural values encourage people to keep many consumer products until they are no longer functional instead of replacing them simply because there are newer ones available. Ecological and economic concerns also contribute to keeping electronics longer than average, as well as country-specific carrier agreements.
This MetaFAQs reports when smartphone users acquired their smartphone by age generation and country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1113_spne] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; User Profile
VR headsets, seeking acceptance, persist as virtual
Who hasn’t misplaced their phone or keys or wondered where their luggage was?
Using technology to help find items has reached a plateau. The percentage of online adults using a wireless item tracker such as Tile or Apple’s AirTag has remained flat between 2021 and 2023. Overall global active usage has subsided from one in six to one in eight online adults. Active penetration rates have dropped among groups such as Gen Z adults in the US, UK, Germany, and China.
This may have seemed like yet another device to help attract users into adopting or staying with technology ecosystems. It’s too early to see if it’s making a difference. The market penetration is too small.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China who actively use a wireless item tracker such as from Tile or Apple’s AirTag. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1025_tile] in TUP Lenses: Consumer Electronics; Technology Ecosystems
Lost phone? Tech solution finds niche and then plateaus.
Who hasn’t misplaced their phone or keys or wondered where their luggage was?
Using technology to help find items has reached a plateau. The percentage of online adults using a wireless item tracker such as Tile or Apple’s AirTag has remained flat between 2021 and 2023. Overall global active usage has subsided from one in six to one in eight online adults. Active penetration rates have dropped among groups such as Gen Z adults in the US, UK, Germany, and China.
This may have seemed like yet another device to help attract users into adopting or staying with technology ecosystems. It’s too early to see if it’s making a difference. The market penetration is too small.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China who actively use a wireless item tracker such as from Tile or Apple’s AirTag. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1025_tile] in TUP Lenses: Consumer Electronics; Technology Ecosystems
Gamers pass the halfway mark
Gamers pass the halfway mark – Over half of the online adults in the US, UK, and highly-educated segments in China regularly play games using their connected devices. While Generation Z leads in game-playing rates, it’s a popular activity across all age groups. Interestingly, there’s no single predominant device for gaming. Smartphones are more prevalent for gaming than consoles among adults in many countries, particularly among Gen X and Boomers. While gaming PCs are gaining traction, their presence is still less than most platforms, barring tablets. Notably, only a minority of Gen X and Boomer players prefer tablets over gaming PCs. This MetaFAQs provides the detailed penetration of game-playing activity, segmented by platform, country, and generation. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1009_game] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Activities; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Peak smartwatch? Time for a strategy shift
Smartwatches have quickly gained popularity, gracing the wrists of millions. These devices offer more than just timekeeping and fitness monitoring; they’ve evolved into personal assistants. Users value their multi-functionality, utilizing them for calendars, health metrics, reminders, and more. In addition, they’ve become a symbol of modern luxury. However, the latest wave of TUP confirms that the smartwatch market penetration seems to have reached a peak or plateau. Now, it’s largely about replacing older models rather than attracting first-time users. Therefore, manufacturers need to adapt their strategies, focusing less on expanding their user base and more on meeting the needs of existing customers.
These TUP tables report on the number and percentage of online adults regularly using a smartwatch such as an Apple Watch. They also include the number who are planning to purchase one within the coming 12 months.
Adulting Millennials prioritize computers
As Millennials transition into adulthood “aka adulting” they have moved from their pioneering smartphone focus and shifted more of their attention towards personal computers. At present, they spend more hours on PCs than any other age generation. One primary reason for this shift is the prevalent use of PCs for work-related activities. But it’s not just about work; their technological expertise, honed over years, plays a significant role. Millennials possess a unique mastery of modern technology, making them device-agnostic. They prioritize functionality over device type loyalty. Furthermore, their preference for larger screens makes PCs an ideal choice. These devices offer bigger displays and multitasking capabilities, which often surpass those of smartphones or tablets, especially for collaboration and web-based meetings. This MetaFAQs reports the number the weekly hours each age generation – Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers/Silent – uses a computer. Report [TUP_doc_2023_0927_mill] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile
Modern communication shifts to coalesce around three modes
Communication methods have evolved over the past few decades. While landlines were once predominant, they’ve now taken a backseat. Asynchronous communication, like email, offers the advantage of connecting without simultaneous availability, often more convenient and effective. Text messaging, in particular, has experienced a significant rise, now standing as a leading communication method alongside emails.
Interestingly, while smartphones are labeled “phones,” their initial use leaned more toward texting than calling. However, synchronous communication methods are making a comeback on these devices. Email, text messaging, and phone calls share nearly equal user numbers, showcasing varied preferences among users.
Meanwhile, group communication methods from shared platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack to video meetings hosted by Zoom and Webex have primarily met acceptance among a selected market subset.
Our communication choices often depend on reciprocation, given its two-way nature. As a result, user groups may flock together toward specific communication modes, either adopting new methods or moving away from older ones.
These trends offer invaluable insights for telecom companies, handset manufacturers, and those aiming to understand or influence consumer behaviors. The TUP data provides detailed information about communication preferences across different countries and generations, highlighting the frequency of use for email, text messaging, and phone calls among similar cohorts.
Home entertainment activities among online Americans
Having fun is one of the main activities for which online Americans use their connected devices – smartphones, home computers, or tablets. In the time prior to and since Covid, there has been a shift in which devices online Americans mostly use for entertainment.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online Americans who regularly use their connected devices for entertainment activities, showing the four-year trend from 2019 through 2022 and drilling down into generational age groups and device types: smartphone, home computers, and tablets.