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Home Research Topics Internet & Technology Platforms & Services Mobile Smartphones
Pew Research CenterMarch 31, 2015
U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015

Despite Clear Benefits, 54% of Smartphone Owners Say Their Phone is “Not Always Needed”—but 46% Say it is Something They “Couldn’t Live Without”

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Despite Clear Benefits, 54% of Smartphone Owners Say Their Phone is “Not Always Needed”—but 46% Say it is Something They “Couldn’t Live Without”

Post Infographics

U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015
7% of Americans Rely Heavily on a Smartphone for Online Access
Smartphone Ownership is Often Most Tenuous for Those Who Rely on Their Devices the Most
More than Half of Smartphone Owners Have Used Their Phone to get Health Information, do Online Banking
Despite Clear Benefits, 54% of Smartphone Owners Say Their Phone is “Not Always Needed”—but 46% Say it is Something They “Couldn’t Live Without”
Some Features are Popular With a Broad Spectrum of Smartphone Owners; Social Networking, Watching Video, and Music/Podcasts are Especially Popular Among Young Users
Younger Users More Likely to Use Their Phone for Preventing Boredom, Avoiding Others, Getting Somewhere
Smartphone Ownership Highest Among Young Adults, Those With High Income/Education Levels
How Much Smartphone Owners Pay for Service
Lower-income and Minority Smartphone Owners are Especially Likely to Have Canceled or Cut Off Service
Many Smartphone Owners Experience Higher Than Expected Bills, Reaching of Data Caps
Young Adults, Non-Whites, Lower Income Americans are Especially Dependent on Smartphones for Online Access
Smartphone Ownership is Often Most Tenuous for Those Who Rely on Their Devices the Most
More Than Half of Smartphone Owners Have Used Their Phone to Get Health Information or Do Online Banking
Lower-income Smartphone Owners Much More Likely to Use Their Phone for Job Seeking
Young Adults Rely Heavily on Their Smartphones for Job Seeking, Educational Content, and Health Information
Young Adults are Especially Likely to Use Their Phone for Navigation – Either by Car, Public Transit, or Taxi
How Smartphones Help in Emergencies
What People Have Trouble Doing Without Their Smartphones
Despite Clear Benefits, 54% of Smartphone Owners Say Their Phone is “Not Always Needed”—but 46% Say it is Something They “Couldn’t Live Without”
Pricier Smartphone Plans More Likely to be Seen as a Financial Burden
Text Messaging, Voice/Video Calls, Internet, Email Rank Among Most Popular Smartphone Features
Text Messaging, Internet, Email, and Voice/Video Calls are Widely-Used by Smartphone Owners of Many Ages
Use of Smartphones for Social Media, Video Watching, and Music/Podcasts is Especially Common Among Young Users
Smartphones Used Frequently at Home and in Transit, Less Often While Exercising
Coordinating With Others, Avoiding Boredom, and Reminders are Among the Most Common Problems Smartphones Help Address
Younger Smartphone Owners More Likely to Use Their Phone for Preventing Boredom, Avoiding Others, Getting Somewhere
Smartphone-Related Emotions — but Many Feel “Distracted” and “Frustrated” as Well
For Younger Adults, Smartphones Inspire a Range of Emotions — from Happy and Grateful, to Distracted and Frustrated
December Week 1 Sample Disposition
December Week 3 Sample Disposition
unweighted sample sizes
Survey Administration Contacts
the unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling
Young Adults are Especially Likely to Use Their Phone for Navigation — Either by Car, Public Transit, or Taxi
64% of American adults now own a smartphone, up from 35% in 2011.

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