Skip to main content

How Consumers Use Their Smart Mobile Devices


Multifaceted mobile devices, such as smartphones, are now pervasive in many markets. Moreover, these coexist with various other types of mobile computing or communication devices. The trend in developed markets is clear -- consumers are likely purchasing these devices with specific primary use-case scenarios in mind.

Whether that preferred device is a laptop PC, smartphone, portable media player (PMPs), or media tablet depends on many factors. According to the findings from the latest market study by NPD In-Stat, they have been able to identify survey respondent's defining attitudes and behaviors toward these smart mobile devices.

One key finding was that the size of the screen tends to create an optimal use case for the device. Specifically, larger screen devices seem to fulfill productivity needs while smaller screen devices tend to satisfy communication or entertainment needs.

"The majority of tablet owners have a screen size between 9 and 11 inches -- a size optimized for sophisticated uses that require a lot of interaction," says Stephanie Ethier, Senior Analyst at NPD In-Stat.

The top uses for tablets are web browsing, email, and downloading and using applications, which are productivity-based uses. The larger screen supports more heavy text consumption and greater user interaction.

Portable media players, which can be virtually identical to tablets except for the smaller-than-5-inch screen, are used primarily to support entertainment-focused uses --such as listening to music and watching video.

Other findings from the market study include:
  • 47 percent of the respondents had a PMP with a screen size from 2.5 to less than 5 inches.
  • Apple iPad is the current overall favorite media tablet device.
  • 54 percent of the respondents cited personal information management as a top use for notebook and netbook PCs.
  • Smartphones are the most often used device while watching TV.

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating AI Implementation Challenges in 2025

As we approach 2025, the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is poised for significant growth. Traditional AI spending is rising, while Generative AI (GenAI) struggles to meet lofty expectations. This apparent dichotomy presents challenges and opportunities for vendors and business leaders navigating the complex world of AI implementation. Let's explore the overall situation. Traditional AI: A Pragmatic Approach In the coming year, we expect to see a surge in traditional AI spending as enterprises seek pragmatic, ROI-driven solutions. This trend is driven by a growing recognition of the limitations and risks associated with GenAI projects, which have shown alarmingly high failure rates of 80 to 90 percent in proof-of-concept stages. The trend towards traditional AI is further supported by data from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which revealed that over 85 percent of AI projects in 2024 were not based on GenAI.  This insightful statistic underscores the continued relevance and ...