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Unlike the largely stationary Internet of the early 2000s, Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones and other mobile devices. . Explore the patterns and trends that shaped the mobile revolution below.
Cell phone ownership over time
The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cell phone of some kind. The share of Americans who own a smartphone is now 85%, up from just 35% in the Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011.
|
Cellphone |
Smartphone |
| 10/27/2002 |
62% |
|
| 11/30/2004 |
65% |
|
| 02/09/2005 |
66% |
|
| 12/31/2005 |
67% |
|
| 03/28/2006 |
66% |
|
| 04/06/2006 |
73% |
|
| 09/05/2007 |
76% |
|
| 02/12/2007 |
75% |
|
| 01/13/2008 |
77% |
|
| 05/11/2008 |
78% |
|
| 08/10/2008 |
82% |
|
| 12/20/2008 |
84% |
|
| 01/27/2009 |
85% |
|
| 04/19/2009 |
85% |
|
| 09/14/2009 |
84% |
|
| 27/12/2009 |
83% |
|
| 01/19/2010 |
80% |
|
| 05/30/2010 |
82% |
|
| 09/13/2010 |
85% |
|
| 11/01/2010 |
84% |
|
| 11/24/2010 |
82% |
|
| 11/28/2010 |
82% |
|
| 21/12/2010 |
81% |
|
| 03/20/2011 |
86% |
|
| 05/22/2011 |
83% |
35% |
| 08/26/2011 |
84% |
|
| 21/12/2011 |
87% |
|
| 01/08/2012 |
88% |
|
| 01/15/2012 |
87% |
39% |
| 02/19/2012 |
88% |
45% |
| 04/03/2012 |
88% |
46% |
| 08/05/2012 |
87% |
44% |
| 08/07/2012 |
89% |
|
| 09/06/2012 |
85% |
45% |
| 09/23/2012 |
88% |
43% |
| 09/30/2012 |
89% |
|
| 10/14/2012 |
88% |
|
| 04/11/2012 |
89% |
|
| 10/11/2012 |
84% |
46% |
| 09/12/2012 |
87% |
45% |
| 16/12/2012 |
88% |
|
| 01/06/2013 |
89% |
51% |
| 05/19/2013 |
91% |
56% |
| 07/14/2013 |
90% |
53% |
| 07/28/2013 |
91% |
53% |
| 09/16/2013 |
89% |
54% |
| 09/30/2013 |
91% |
55% |
| 06/10/2013 |
92% |
58% |
| 01/05/2014 |
92% |
55% |
| 01/12/2014 |
90% |
58% |
| 01/26/2014 |
91% |
55% |
| 02/18/2014 |
90% |
|
| 04/27/2014 |
92% |
|
| 09/21/2014 |
91% |
|
| 21/12/2014 |
89% |
59% |
| 04/12/2015 |
92% |
67% |
| 07/12/2015 |
92% |
68% |
| 11/15/2015 |
91% |
69% |
| 04/04/2016 |
92% |
72% |
| 03/05/2016 |
92% |
70% |
| 06/11/2016 |
95% |
77% |
| 01/10/2018 |
95% |
77% |
| 02/07/2019 |
96% |
81% |
| 02/08/2021 |
97% |
85% |
Pew Research Center
Who owns cell phones and smartphones
A substantial majority of Americans own cellphones across a wide range of demographic groups. In contrast, smartphone ownership shows greater variation by age, household income, and education level.
% of US adults who report owning a…
|
Cellphone |
Smartphone |
Mobile phone, but not smartphone |
| Total |
97% |
85% |
11% |
| Men |
97% |
85% |
11% |
| Women |
98% |
85% |
12% |
| 18-29 years old |
100% |
96% |
4% |
| 30-49 |
100% |
95% |
5% |
| 50-64 |
97% |
83% |
12% |
| 65+ |
92% |
61% |
29% |
| White |
97% |
85% |
11% |
| Black |
99% |
83% |
15% |
| Hispanic |
100% |
85% |
14% |
| High school or less |
96% |
75% |
19% |
| Some college |
98% |
89% |
9% |
| University graduate |
98% |
93% |
5% |
| Less than $30,000 |
97% |
76% |
19% |
| $30,000 to $49,999 |
97% |
83% |
14% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 |
97% |
85% |
12% |
| $75,000+ |
100% |
96% |
3% |
| Urban |
98% |
89% |
9% |
| Suburban |
97% |
84% |
12% |
| Rural |
94% |
80% |
14% |
Note: Respondents who did not provide an answer are not displayed. White and black adults include those who say they are one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: survey of US adults from January 25 to February 25. 8, 2021.
Pew Research Center
Ownership of other devices
In addition to cell phones, Americans own a range of other information devices. About three-quarters of American adults now own a desktop or laptop computer, while about half own a tablet.
|
reading light |
Tablet |
desktop/laptop computer |
| 01/13/2008 |
|
|
74% |
| 04/19/2009 |
2% |
|
|
| 09/14/2009 |
3% |
|
|
| 05/30/2010 |
4% |
3% |
|
| 06/20/2010 |
|
|
78% |
| 09/13/2010 |
5% |
4% |
|
| 11/24/2010 |
6% |
5% |
|
| 05/22/2011 |
12% |
8% |
|
| 08/26/2011 |
9% |
ten% |
|
| 21/12/2011 |
ten% |
ten% |
75% |
| 01/08/2012 |
18% |
20% |
|
| 01/15/2012 |
19% |
19% |
78% |
| 02/19/2012 |
14% |
14% |
|
| 04/03/2012 |
18% |
18% |
|
| 08/05/2012 |
19% |
21% |
|
| 08/07/2012 |
|
25% |
|
| 10/11/2012 |
19% |
24% |
77% |
| 16/12/2012 |
|
29% |
|
| 01/06/2013 |
26% |
31% |
|
| 05/19/2013 |
24% |
34% |
|
| 09/30/2013 |
24% |
34% |
|
| 04/12/2015 |
19% |
45% |
73% |
| 04/04/2016 |
17% |
48% |
74% |
| 06/11/2016 |
22% |
51% |
78% |
| 01/10/2018 |
|
53% |
73% |
| 02/07/2019 |
|
52% |
74% |
| 02/08/2021 |
|
53% |
77% |
Pew Research Center
Smartphone addiction over time
There has been a steady decline in the number of those using smartphones as their primary means of online access at home in recent years. Today, 15% of American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users, meaning they own a smartphone but lack traditional broadband service at home.
|
american adults |
| 2013 |
8% |
| 2014 |
— |
| 2015 |
13% |
| 2016 |
12% |
| 2017 |
— |
| 2018 |
20% |
| 2019 |
17% |
| 2021 |
15% |
Pew Research Center
Who is addicted to the smartphone
The reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among young adults, low-income Americans, and those with a high school diploma or less.
|
18-29 |
30-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
| 2013 |
12% |
9% |
7% |
3% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
19% |
16% |
11% |
7% |
| 2016 |
17% |
13% |
11% |
7% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
28% |
24% |
16% |
ten% |
| 2019 |
22% |
18% |
14% |
12% |
| 2021 |
28% |
11% |
13% |
12% |
Pew Research Center
|
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
| 2013 |
6% |
ten% |
16% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
ten% |
19% |
23% |
| 2016 |
9% |
15% |
23% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
14% |
24% |
35% |
| 2019 |
12% |
23% |
25% |
| 2021 |
12% |
17% |
25% |
Pew Research Center
|
Men |
Women |
| 2013 |
9% |
8% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
14% |
13% |
| 2016 |
12% |
12% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
20% |
19% |
| 2019 |
17% |
16% |
| 2021 |
14% |
15% |
Pew Research Center
|
Less than $30,000 |
$30,000 to $49,999 |
$50,000 to $74,999 |
$75,000+ |
| 2013 |
12% |
9% |
5% |
5% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
20% |
15% |
ten% |
6% |
| 2016 |
21% |
12% |
ten% |
5% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
31% |
22% |
14% |
9% |
| 2019 |
26% |
20% |
ten% |
6% |
| 2021 |
27% |
19% |
6% |
6% |
Pew Research Center
|
Less than high school graduate |
High school diploma |
High school or less |
Some college |
University graduate |
| 2013 |
14% |
11% |
— |
8% |
4% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
21% |
17% |
— |
14% |
6% |
| 2016 |
27% |
15% |
— |
12% |
5% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
39% |
22% |
— |
21% |
ten% |
| 2019 |
32% |
24% |
— |
16% |
4% |
| 2021 |
|
|
23% |
15% |
4% |
Pew Research Center
|
Urban |
Suburban |
Rural |
| 2013 |
9% |
7% |
9% |
| 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2015 |
15% |
12% |
15% |
| 2016 |
12% |
12% |
14% |
| 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2018 |
22% |
17% |
17% |
| 2019 |
17% |
13% |
20% |
| 2021 |
16% |
12% |
17% |
Pew Research Center
Learn more
Discover more in-depth explorations of the impact of mobile adoption by following the links below.
Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021 June 3, 2021
The digital divide persists even as low-income Americans advance in tech adoption June 22, 2021
Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and suburban America August 19, 2021
Americans with disabilities are less likely than others to own certain digital devices September 10, 2021
All reports and blog posts related to mobile technology.
