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
A large share of online adults live alone
A sizeable share of the online public live alone, especially in Germany, yet also in the US, UK, and Japan. This research finding has implications for technology marketers, since our TUP data also shows that one-person households behave differently than those with many people, especially with children. Solo households buy technology products less often, have fewer products and services, and have different needs. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1107_alon] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Households
Android tablets are strongest among younger adults even as iPads lead
Apple iPads dominate the market for tablets, with a higher penetration than Android tablets among online adults around the world. Among millennials and Gen Xers, however, Android tablets have their strongest foothold, especially in the US. Among online Germans, Android tablet users outnumber iPad users among millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers, and the reverse is true among Gen Z adults.
This MetaFAQs reports on the number and percentage of online tablet users by operating system family, country, and age generation in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1103_andp] in TUP Lenses: Tablets
Youth versus experience: the new/used computer divide
Employers are saddling younger adults with used/refurbished computers. Over one-third of American adults aged 18 to 24 actively using an employer-provided PC are using one previously used by someone else. In the UK, that rate among younger adults is nearly as high. Older adults don’t have as high a rate.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of PC users actively using a used/refurbished computer by computer ownership and age group within the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1101_used] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Mobile Phones; User Profile
American and German household size associated with device newness
Americans and Germans who live alone or with just one other person tend to have older devices compared to those in bigger households. For instance, 41% of Americans in households with four or more people got their main device in the last year. This is more than the 28% of Americans in smaller households of one or two people. This trend also holds true in Germany. But in the UK, Japan, and China, there’s less of a difference.
One factor behind this is that larger households often have kids. Having children in the household is linked to using technology more actively and being more open to new tech products and services. This MetaFAQs is based on TUP 2023 results.
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.
Home PC trends and generational shifts – 2011-2022 – US
Home computers are losing their preeminence among online Americans. Since 2011, home computers have fallen from near ubiquity among online Americans to being regularly used by a dwindling majority.
This TUPdate reports on the penetration rates of home computers, Windows home PCs, Apple home computers, and Google OS (Chromebook) computers and overall level detailed by age generation. It also identifies how people have changed how they use home computers since the onset of the pandemic.
Technology wealth of American generations
Which American generation has the largest collection of connected devices? How much does each generation have of the active installed base? How has this shifted between 2021 and 2022?
This TUP analysis reports on the total number of connected devices – mobile phones, PCs, tablets, and game consoles – by generational cohort – Gen Z, Younger/Older Millennials, Younger/Older Gen X, Younger/Older Boomers, and before.
The only set of connected devices Americans use
Since 2018 and through the pandemic, fewer online Americans have been using computers, game consoles, feature phones, and tablets. Smartphones, already near saturation levels, have continued to increase market penetration.
Is the smartphone headed towards being the last device standing, or is there some other device combination that is more widely used?
This TUPdate looks at the market penetration of key devices – computers, smartphones, feature phones, game consoles, and tablets – among American adults. Beyond their overall penetration rates, this analysis dives deeper into identifying the device combinations used by three of four American adults, and profiling who uses them.
Notebook/laptop usage by socioeconomic groups
Older Americans have discovered laptops as they increasingly see the appeal of mobile computing. Americans working from home had a momentary surge in laptop usage while working at home.
Market penetration rates have dropped to pre-pandemic levels or below. Historically disadvantaged groups have had the sharpest decline in active laptop use.
This TUPdate looks at the profile of American adults who currently use a notebook/laptop along several lines: the socioeconomic group they are part of, their life stage, employment status, and age.