Cell phone statistics 2023

Phone ownership trends

Since 2015, cell phone ownership has increased 16%. About 97% of Americans owned a feature phone or smartphone in 2022, compared to 85% in 2015.

Today, 92% of all cell phone owners have a smartphone.

Smartphone shipments in 2023 are expected to reach 1.15 billion devices worldwide. While this is a staggering number of shipments, such orders would represent a 6% decline year-over-year.

Apple is the leading smartphone brand in the United States, representing more than half of the market share.

Mobile phone ownership by age

Almost all Americans (97%) own a mobile phone. This translates to about 325.4 million people. Those aged 65 and over are the least likely to have a phone.

Children, on average, get their first phones at 11.6 years old. The sharpest increase in kids getting a phone happens between 10.7 and 12.5 years of age. By 15, almost all children have a cell phone.

Phones vs. other electronic devices

American households have, on average, nearly six internet-connected devices. Generation Z is more “connected” than their older counterparts, having 6.6 devices in the home on average.

• Among smartphone owners in the US, 17% of people reside in “smartphone-only” households. Just 8% of households own four types of connected devices (a smartphone, laptop, tablet, and smartwatch)
• Many (42%) of American households own two connected devices: a smartphone and either a  a laptop, tablet, or smartwatch/wearable.
• Though 91% of Americans have access to the internet (via home broadband or a smartphone), the rising cost of broadband service is a concern for many. As a result, 15% of adult Americans are dependent on their smartphone for internet access.

A shocking number of people upgrade their phones every year (11.89%), and 4.28% purchase a new phone every six months.

• Most cell phone users (55.47%) upgrade their phones every two to three years.

Mobile phone usage and habits

Caught in an endless cycle of notifications and pings, Americans are feeling tied to their phones now more than ever.

• Cellphone users look at their phones 144 times a day on average.
• Americans spend an average of 4 hours and 25 minutes on their phones per day, up 52% from 2022, when Americans used their phones for 2 hours and 54 minutes per day.
• The most common phone activities are checking email, taking photos, and surfing the internet.

Self-professed smartphone addictions (fear of being without a mobile phone) are becoming increasingly common as more people rely on technology for relationships, work, learning, and entertainment.

• Nearly 57% of Americans consider themselves "mobile phone addicts."
• Three in four admit to feeling uncomfortable without their phones.
• One in six sleep with their phones at night.
• Almost half (47%) say they panic when their battery drops below 20%.

Mobile shopping

By 2025, mobile phone sales (known as m-commerce) are forecasted to double, amounting to approximately 710 billion dollars. By comparison, m-commerce sales topped 360 billion in 2021.

• Roughly half, or 50.55%, of internet traffic comes from mobile phones.
• Three in four Americans (76%) have bought something online using mobile phones. Those under age 50 are most likely to buy online (92%).
• About one-third (32%) of the US population uses their phone to buy something online at least once a week.