In February 2021, 85% of U.S. adults ages 18 years and older owned a smartphone, up 4% from February 2019. Until 2020, Android smartphones were the most popular, holding onto about 50% of the market. Team iPhone usage spiked in 2020 and has held a small lead ever since. In late 2020, Apple phones took the lead in terms of popularity with 65% of market share.
So what does this have to do with subscriptions? Several things. First, smartphone services are typically sold on a subscription basis. In exchange for a recurring monthly payment, subscribers get uninterrupted service according to the agreement they negotiated at the time of the initial agreement. Some services like T-Mobile also offer new phones as a part of the deal. For example, “you get this shiny new phone for the low, low price of $45 a month for two years.” Companies like Apple are also making their smartphone service plans and hardware available via subscription.
But wait, there’s more. Some wireless carriers, such as Verizon, are bundling their products and services with those of other subscription companies. Launched in beta last December, Verizon offers +play, a web-based content hub where their customers can buy select subscription services, including Netflix and other +play partners including the NFL, NBA, AMC, Peloton, The Athletic and others. And, of course, there are many streaming and mobile gaming services that allow online and offline viewing on mobile devices. As smartphone services try to find more ways to attract and retain customers, we may see more of these types of bundles.
For more data on smartphones in the U.S., check out our latest STAT PACK. View it online or download it for reading later.
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Table of Contents
Overview
- Smartphone ownership in the U.S. 2011-2021
- Smartphone sales value in the United States 2005-2022
- Smartphone unit shipments in the U.S. 2013-2025
- Active smartphone user base in the U.S. 2009-2019
Segments
- U.S. smartphone subscriber share by operating platform 2012-2022, by month
- Smartphone by operating system in the U.S. 2020
- Size of mobile data plan in the U.S. 2021
- U.S. share of 5G smartphone sales of total sales 2019-2021, by month
- Average selling price for 5G smartphones in the U.S. 2019-2021
Companies and brands
- Share of smartphone shipments in North America 2015-2021, by vendor
- Share of smartphone sales in the United States by vendor Q1 2016-Q4 2021
- Share of smartphone subscribers in the United States by manufacturer 2013-2022
- Smartphone market share in the U.S. 2017 -2022, by model
- Most popular smartphone brands in the U.S. 2021
- American customer satisfaction index for smartphone models in the U.S. 2021
Consumption
- Daily time spent on mobile phones in the U.S. 2019-2023
- Smartphone acquisition by channel in the U.S. 2020
- Smartphone ownership in the U.S. 2011-2021, by gender
- Smartphone ownership in the U.S. 2011-2021, by ethnicity
- Smartphone ownership in the U.S. 2011-2021, by location
- Smartphone ownership in the U.S. 2011-2021, by income
- Reach of most popular U.S. smartphone apps 2022
Outlook
- Retail prices of folding phones in the United States 2021
- Foldable smartphone shipments worldwide 2019, 2020 and 2025
- Mobile payments by situation in the U.S. 2022
- Smartphone penetration in the United States as share of population 2018-2025
- Smartphone users in the United States 2018-2025
Copyright © 2023 Authority Media Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
