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March 4, 2024April 15, 2024

Americans continue trend with more smartphone than computer hours

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, March 4, 2024

Summary

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.

A stable total with underlying shifts

The total number of hours Americans use smartphones grew strongly from 2019 through 2022, and has leveled off in 2023. Total smartphone hours surpassed hours using computers in 2022, mostly due to reduced computer usage.
Hours using tablets has remained a steady, if minor, part of the American experience.

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February 17, 2024February 29, 2024

Tech use grows with household size

Adults in larger households worldwide use more devices than those in smaller households, a trend that has been established for years. Even as people are using fewer devices, those with more people in their households continue to use more devices than the adults in smaller households. One key factor influencing a higher usage profile is the presence of children, especially school-aged kids. Also, many smaller households are composed of older adults or those not employed outside of the household. All of these are contributing factors towards the greater use of technology devices and services.

This MetaFAQs reports on the average (mean) number of devices actively used (phones, computers, tablets) by adults by household size and country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0217_many] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Households

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February 15, 2024February 29, 2024

Most device hours are among younger workers

Worldwide, the most active users of connected devices are younger workers. The hours people use devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets ranks second among either younger adults not employed outside of the home or older adults who are employed, varying by country.

This MetaFAQs reports on the mean weekly hours that adults use connected devices by employment status and age group by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0215_ybus] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; User Profile; Work/Life Balance

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February 13, 2024February 29, 2024

Young adults strongly prefer Apple computers globally

Globally, computer users aged 18 to 24 are twice as likely as 50+ users to be using an Apple computer. Among German adults, the ratio is the most extreme – more than four times wider. Germany has been a stronghold for Windows computers as well as Android smartphone and tablets, a factor that has been changing primarily with younger Germans. In Japan, the difference by age group is not as extreme, and Apple’s overall penetration is lower across the board.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of adult computer users who are using an Apple computer by age group and country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0213_ymac] in TUP Lenses: PCs; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems

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February 11, 2024February 29, 2024

Younger–though not youngest–adults lead in device hours

Worldwide, younger adults use their connected devices for more hours than older adults. The global average is driven in large part by the youthful enthusiasm of younger upper-SES Chinese adults along with extra-active younger Germans balancing out their less-intensive, although numerous, older counterparts. While it may seem convenient to imagine that youthfulness equates to higher device activity, it is not universally true, as 25 to 34-year-olds dominate usage averages in the US, Germany, and the UK.

This MetaFAQs reports on the mean weekly hours that online adults use their smartphones, computers, and tablets split by age group and country. These results are based on the results of research on 13,498 online adults. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0211_yhrs] in TUP Lenses: Devices; User Profile

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January 27, 2024December 5, 2023

Apple’s younger multi-product customers

Apple’s better customers, actively using two or more smartphones, tablets, or computers, are decidedly younger than the online population. This youthful skew is seen in every country surveyed.
Germany stands out for its more extreme bias towards younger adults. The long-entrenched Google Android smartphone majority has proven difficult for Apple to penetrate. Germans aged 18 to 24 appear to be challenging the status quo.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China who are actively using two or more Apple OS devices (an Apple iPhone (iOS), an Apple iPad (iPadOS), or an Apple Mac (MacOS). Report [TUP_doc_2024_0127_2apl] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; User Profile; Technology Ecosystems

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January 27, 2024March 19, 2024

Tech buying plan trends are stronger among remote workers

With the onset of the pandemic, remote workers rushed to outfit their homes or remote working locations with technology to help them communicate, work, and otherwise be productive. During this time, not all workers could acquire the technology they wanted since only in some cases did employers provide the desired technology. Following this peak, most interest in tech buying plans has waned and reverted to the mean.

This MetaFAQs reports on the purchase plans for remote workers within the next twelve months. It includes mobile phones (smartphones and feature phones), computers (desktops and laptops), tablets, and printers from 2020 through 2023. Each trend is also compared to workers who never work remotely. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0127_plat] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Consumer Electronics; Printers; Work/Life Balance

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January 25, 2024December 5, 2023

A smartphone and computer are the top combo

Worldwide and in each country surveyed, the most-used combination of devices is to have a home computer, a smartphone, and no tablet. Having all three of these or only a smartphone are 2nd and 3rd and nearly equal. In Germany and China, using only a smartphone is ranked a distant 3rd. Conversely, in Japan, using all three is a distant 3rd. There is no significant difference by age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0125_comb] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets

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January 25, 2024March 19, 2024

Computer refresh rates keep on, buoyed by later generations

With the onset of the pandemic and related economic shifts, computer acquisition patterns did not spike substantially. After reaching a peak of new computer use in 2021, the share of Americans and Germans using a computer acquired in the prior 12 months has subsided.

This MetaFAQs reports the percentage of online adults using a computer acquired in the prior year, split by country and age generational group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0125_newt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile

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January 23, 2024December 5, 2023

Smartphone hours exceed computer hours in most countries

Adults spend more time using smartphones than computers in most countries surveyed. Online Americans use their smartphones for 5.1 billion hours per week and computers – at home, work, school, or others – for 4.5 billion hours per week. In Germany, online adults use their smartphones, computers, and tablets for a total of 2.8 billion weekly hours, half of which are while using computers.

This MetaFAQs reports on the billions of weekly hours adults use their smartphones, computers, and tablets in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0123_hour] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Activities

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Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.