Mobiles overtake laptops for internet browsing

Use of smart phones has overtaken the use of laptops for accessing the internet, according to Ofcom. A new report on the Financial Times website shows how...

From the archive: originally published on the Eastpoint blog on 7 August 2015. Some details reflect that time.

Use of smart phones has overtaken the use of laptops for accessing the internet, according to Ofcom.

A new report on the Financial Times website shows how laptops as the "device of choice" has declined in the last three years, going from 46% of internet browsers preferring a laptop in 2013, to 40% in 2014 and 30% this year.

Desktop computer as the most important device has also taken a tumble, halving from 28% in 2013 to 14% in 2015.

Like smart phones, tablet use has also been going up and up, from 8% in 2013 to 19% in 2015.

These statistics show the importance of mobile, but also of choice. A lot of people still use laptops, desktop, and the medium sized screen of a tablet. Also, what you are accessing online plays a part. It has been previously reported that consumers prefer to see a larger screen when making a purchase.

In a statement on their findings, Ofcom referred to the UK as a "smart phone society".

According to Ofcom, two thirds of UK adults (66%) now own a smartphone, up from 39% in 2012, and use it for nearly two hours a day to browse, use social media, bank and shop. Ownership among 16 to 24 year olds is 90%, and among 55 to 64 year olds it has more than doubled since 2012, from 19% to 50%.

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