There has been a jump in the number of people who would like to reduce the amount of time they spend on their smartphones, according to new research from Deloitte.
The Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends report shows that two-thirds of adults wish they spent less time on their devices, up significantly from 51% a year ago.
Three-quarters of those surveyed said they check their smartphones as soon as they wake up, compared with 59% a year ago.
A total of 98% of 18 to 75-year-olds use their smartphone every day, with more than a third doing so during mealtimes.
The survey shows the percentage of people who check their phone at least 50 times a day remains at 36%, while the percentage who check theirs at least 100 times is also unchanged at 16%.
A total of 96% of respondents said they own a smartphone, up from 94% last year.
Mobile phones are now the preferred device for browsing shopping websites, making online purchases, online searches, banking and playing games.
Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the smartphone market.
A total of 37% of adults said they own an Apple phone and 38% own a Samsung phone.
Apple remains the most popular brand among 18 to 34-year-olds.
“While many people wish they could reduce the extensive amount of time they spend on their smartphones, it is clear that they are the preferred devices for everything from banking to online search, browsing, playing games and shopping,” said John Kehoe, partner, Consumer & Technology Business audit and assurance group at Deloitte.
“People are now increasingly using their phones to make in-person payments and our survey shows many would also like to use them for identity identification too, which is something that is likely to become possible in the future,” Mr Kehoe said.
The research shows there has been an increase in the number of people who own wearables, such as smartwatches, Smart TVs and video doorbells.
When it comes to streaming services, Netflix remains the market leader.
A quarter of respondents cancelled a video streaming service in the last 12 months with the main reason being that it wasn’t used enough.
More than a third of subscription holders said they share access to their accounts between two or more households.
The Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends report is an annual survey of consumers which explores their digital usage and attitudes towards technology.
The survey of 1,000 people was carried out in August 2023.
