Smartphone users spend nearly an hour a day with their devices


If you’re like me, you use it in small chunks – checking email while hurrying to a meeting, scrolling through Twitter while waiting for an elevator, watching an episode of “Arrested Development” on the treadmill, texting my family, checking the bio of an actor while watching a movie and, yes, sometimes even making or receiving calls.

In a new study, Experian Marketing Services says the average adult smartphone owner spends 58 minutes a day using the device. Interestingly, the biggest usage of this 21st century device is a very 20th-century activity: talking on the phone is at 26 percent, while texting comes in second at 20 percent.

Also high on the list: social networking, visiting websites, email and games.

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As have other studies, the Experian report indicates there are real differences in the way owners of Android smartphones and iPhones use their devices:

For starters, iPhone users spend an hour and fifteen minutes using their phones per day, a full 26 minutes more than the typical Android phone owner. Additionally, iPhone and Android smartphone owners use their phones in markedly different ways. For instance, 28% of the time that Android users spend using their phones is dedicated to talking, whereas iPhone users spend only 22% of their smartphone time talking on the device. Android owners also devote a greater share of time visiting websites on their phone than iPhone owners. On the other hand, iPhone owners spend a disproportionately greater share of smartphone time than Android owners texting, emailing, using the camera and social networking.

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The study also found that 98 percent of people don’t watch video on their phone in a typical day. I find that surprising, given the number of times a day someone will share funny YouTube clip with me. As I mentioned, I watch long videos – usually TV shows lasting 30-48 minutes at time – about 4-5 times a week, while I work out. But this is not common, according to Experian.

How does the study match up with your smartphone use? Let us know in the comments.

Dwight Silverman