Mobile devices in the UK - statistics & facts

Mobile devices are not, as the name might suggest, devices that move, but electronic devices that can be held easily in hand and designed with a focus on portability. Examples of mobile devices include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables, including smartwatches, and fitness trackers. In the UK, smartphones and laptops are among the most owned devices within households, with wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers growing in popularity over recent years.

Mobile device market ncludes many segments

By 2028, it is forecast that nearly 66 million people in the UK will be using a smartphone, a sharp increase from the 30 million people just ten years ago. Those aged between 16 and 34 are most likely to use such devices, although there has been noticeable increase in smartphone usage in people aged 55 to 64. For tablet computers, ownership is highest in the 35 to 44 age category, although once again, it is those aged 55 years and above where the strongest uptake of tablet computers has been observed in recent years. By 2026, it is forecast that sales of tablet computers in the UK will decrease to just under one billion U.S. dollars. Revenue from laptop sales is set to reach 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in the UK during the same year.

Apple leads the mobile device market

In terms of vendors of mobile devices, Apple and Samsung dominate the smartphone and tablet markets in the UK. For smartphones, Apple’s market share stood at around 50 percent in 2022, while Samsung occupied 30 percent. For tablets, Apple and Samsung again ranked first and second, occupying 60 and 20 percent of the market respectively. Apple has been losing some of their market share in recent years, as Samsung and Amazon improve their tablet offerings. Other mobile device markets, such as smartwatches, also see Apple and Samsung feature heavily, alongside the likes of Fitbit and Garmin.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 20, 2023

Key insights

Consumer electronics revenue UK 2023
27.6bn GBP
Most profitable CE segment UK 2023
Telephony
Most commonly owned device in UK households
Smartphones
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Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Market share of leading mobile device vendors in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2012 to 2023

Mobile Devices

Market share of mobile device vendors in the UK 2012-2023

Smartphone ownership penetration in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2012-2023, by age

Mobile Devices

Smartphone ownership in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2023, by age

Share of smartphone users in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2023, by age

Mobile Devices

Smartphone usage in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2023, by age

Related topics

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5

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Overview

4

Overview

Segment: Smartphones

5

Segment: Smartphones

Segment: Tablets

5

Segment: Tablets

Segment: Laptops

4

Segment: Laptops

Segment: Wearables

4

Segment: Wearables

Companies

7

Companies

Consumption

5

Consumption

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Smartphones
Smartphones
Tablets
Tablets
PCs
PCs
Desktop, laptop and tablet PC consumption in Great Britain (Kantar Media TGI)
Desktop, laptop and tablet PC consumption in Great Britain (Kantar Media TGI)
Smart devices in the United Kingdom
Smart devices in the United Kingdom

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