Home computers began to decline in use in 2018, a drop that accelerated with the pandemic’s onset. Younger adults across multiple countries were the first to reduce their home computer use which older adults then followed. In 2023, all age groups across the countries surveyed have reduced the share that actively uses a home computer. Usage is lowest among younger adults, although rates are also lower among older adults than in 2017.
Thie MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of online adults who regularly use a home computer, split by country (US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China) and age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0120_pcat] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile
Family size influences connected device use
In larger households, adults tend to spend more time on digital devices compared to those in smaller households. Adults in larger households use their connected devices more hours per week than those in smaller households. This pattern holds among online Americans, Britons, Japanese, and Chinese. Among German adults, the pattern is bimodal, with usage highest among German adults with 3 persons in their household.
This MetaFAQs reports on the average (mean) weekly hours online adults use their connected devices (computers, smartphones, tablets) during a week. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0119_busy] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; User Profile; Households
Smaller employers rely on workers’ home PCs
During the pandemic, as workers began to work from home, they shifted rapidly to use whatever technology they had. Even after many employees have returned to the workplace, whether on a regular or hybrid basis, the share of workers using a home PC for work continues to outnumber those using an employer-provided PC. The trend in the gap between home and work PCs has narrowed within some sectors, namely in the US and Japan among larger employers, and remains wide among smaller employers around the world.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of workers – full-time, part-time, or self-employed – who use a home PC for work-related activities as compared to those using a work PC for work-related activities, split by the size of the employer. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0103_byot] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Activities; Work/Life Balance
Younger adults use recently acquired computers
In many countries, twice as many younger adults use a newer computer than older adults. This is more of a reflection of youthful enthusiasm and interest in newer technology than of the economic status of younger adults. In many countries, less than a sixth of online adults aged 50 and up use a computer acquired in the prior 12 months.
This MetaFAQs reports the percentage of online adults using a computer acquired in the previous 12 months, split by age group and country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1215_yout] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile
Stronger tech buying plans among remote workers
Stronger tech buying plans among remote workers – Workers working from home have substantially stronger purchase plans than workers who never work from home. To be able to work effectively, they need sufficient technology to enable communication, collaboration, comfort, and computing. Based on their recent survey responses, their technology needs are not fully satisfied.
This MetaFAQs reports on the purchase plans for computers, tablets, printers, consumer electronics, and other technology products, contrasting workers who work from home versus those who do not by country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1129_plan] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Consumer Electronics; Printers; Work/Life Balance
Home computer use is age-skewed; whether youngest, younger, or older varies by country
Home computer use is age-skewed; whether youngest, younger, or older varies by country – Home computers are not used as readily by all age groups. There are wide age differences in most countries due to engrained habits, replacement by smartphones, and socioeconomics.
This MetaFAQs reports on the installed base of home computers among online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China, split by user age group. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1121_pcag] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile
Most employers have employees BYOD
Most employers have employees BYOD – The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped many established practices. During this period, many employees transitioned to remote work, leaning on familiar consumer technologies. Consequently, Zoom became a popular choice for virtual meetings over platforms like Webex, which are more corporate-centric. For document collaboration, many opted for Google Docs over more enterprise-focused cloud solutions. Regarding hardware, many employees utilized their personal smartphones and computers. This shift caught numerous employers by surprise. Adapting quickly wasn’t feasible for all, leading some to permit employees to use personal devices. Eventually, facilitating workers with company-approved devices would require careful planning, time, and resources. Many employers acquiesced despite increased security risks and management costs, shifting much of this burden to employees. In light of these developments, the concept of “”bring your own device”” (BYOD) seemed more like “buy your own device.”
This MetaFAQs reports on the number of online employees who use a home-owned computer for work-related activities as compared to the number who use an employer-provided computer in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1021_byod] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Activities; Work/Life Balance
Simplicity coalesces with smartphones
The long-term trend towards actively juggling many connected devices has reversed. It has even slid as users consolidate their activities on a smartphone. Furthermore, people use their devices for a narrower range of activities, simplifying their device collection and what they do with them.
Many users shifted to using a notebook and smartphone only to continue their shift using their notebooks less than before. Tablets offered to combine the best of computers and smartphones but instead have fallen into a gap between them. Meanwhile, the majority of people have migrated their activities onto their smartphones. Some of the motivation has been a quest for simplicity, although, in fact, convenience has driven more people. Economics have also played a part, spurred by the many shifts in work in response to the pandemic.
Only ten years ago, the average online adult regularly used as many as four types of devices, most frequently using a home computer, work computer, smartphone, and tablet. Although computers are still in active use, when they are being used, many have been relegated to specific tasks, such as shopping, watching videos, or intensive games.
Long-term home notebook/laptop trends and current user profile
From 2014 to 2022, there’s been a noticeable shift in device usage among online Americans. Although overall computer usage declined from 89% to 70%, the usage of notebook computers remained steady. While desktop computer usage dropped from 74% to 45%, smartphone usage rose from 64% to 87%, signifying a consistent demand for mobile solutions. Interestingly, despite the surge in smartphone usage, notebook computers maintain their active presence. Generational changes in notebook usage also occurred, with boomers increasing their usage before and tapering after the pandemic, while the Silent + Greatest Generation raised their usage from 28% in 2014 to almost 40% before the pandemic, gently reducing it to 35% in 2022. Millennials maintained the highest usage rates nearly every year.
On a global scale, Apple has the largest share in the active home notebook base, followed by HP and Lenovo. In the U.S., Apple again leads the pack with the highest share. The average age of home notebook users skews slightly older than the average online adult, with Japan hosting the oldest users. Gen Z adults show the lowest usage rate across the U.S., Germany, U.K., and Japan, with most home notebook users falling into the millennial, Gen X, or boomers/Silent generations. Regarding brand and age, Apple has the youngest users globally, while HP has the oldest. Moreover, brands have no significant effect on home notebook activities, with the top three activities being identical across all major brands.
This TUPdate looks at the penetration levels of notebooks/laptops from 2014 to 2022 as well as smartphones and other computer form factors. It profiles users of home notebook/laptop users by their demographics, purchase recency, and activities.
Home computer usage & plans by socioeconomic groups
Fewer Americans actively use a home computer than in 2018 before the pandemic. With each passing year, Americans in nearly every sociodemographic group have reduced their active use of a home computer. Purchase intentions, however, have foretold of a potential market composition shift with a resurgence of interest among some of the groups with the lowest usage rates.
This TUPdate looks at the profile of American adults who currently use a personally owned home computer along several lines: the socioeconomic group they are part of, their life stage, employment status, and age.