More than a third (35 percent) of all Americans now own a smartphone, according to the latest report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Of these, one quarter conduct most of their online browing on the devices.
The study, released July 11, is the organization’s first standalone measure of smartphone ownership. Based on a survey of 2,277 Americans over age 18, the study reveals that 83 percent of U.S. adults have a cellphone of some kind, while 42 percent of these mobile device owners use a smartphone.
Android is most common smartphone platform, according to the report, followed by iPhone and BlackBerry devices. Among smartphone users polled:
- 35 percent describe their phone as an Android device
- 24 percent describe their phone as an iPhone
- 24 percent describe their phone as a BlackBerry
- 4 percent describe their phone as a Windows device
- 6 percent describe their phone as a Palm device.
The majority of adults aged 25-34 own a smartphone (58 percent). Usage is also high among those aged 35-44 (44 percent).
Smartphone ownership by age (percent respondents in each age group):
- 18-24 (49 percent)
- 25-34 (58 percent)
- 35-44 (44 percent)
- 45-54 (28 percent)
- 55-64 (22 percent)
- 65 or older (11 percent)
Smartphone owners are also far more likely than other U.S. adults to own other devices. The five top devices owned by smartphone users, based on percent of respondents:
- Laptop computer (79 percent)
- Mp3 player (70 percent)
- Desktop computer (68 percent)
- e-Book reader (20 percent)
- Tablet (18 percent)
More than eight in 10 smartphone owners (87 percent) use the Internet or email on the devices, while 68 percent use their smartphone to go online on a typical day. A quarter (25 percent) say they go online mostly using their smartphone.
