Smartphone/Tablet Users Spend Less Time with Laptops, Digital Cameras

Smartphone and tablet owners are spending less time using standalone consumer electronics (CE) devices according to new research study, “A Tale of Two Techs – Smartphone and Tablet Adoption and Usage,” released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The study shows consumers continue to use standalone electronic devices, such as digital cameras, but are reducing their usage time as a result of owning a smartphone or tablet.

According to the announcement, in households that own laptops, 43 percent of smartphone owners and 46 percent of tablet owners report spending less time with their laptops. However, very few users indicate they have stopped using their laptop computers altogether (one percent among smartphone owners, two percent tablet owners).

Compared to most standalone devices – with the exception of laptops – smartphones and tablets are being used more often and for more activities. Smartphones have become the primary device for taking pictures (78 percent), recording videos (74 percent), getting directions (69 percent), reading e-books (62 percent), listening to music (59 percent) and playing games (39 percent). Laptops and desktops remain the primary device smartphone and tablet owners use to browse the Internet, shop online, watch videos and view/edit documents.

The devices consumers indicate they are most likely to stop using altogether as a result of owning a smartphone and/or tablet are camcorders, portable audio/MP3 players, portable game devices, GPS or navigation devices and dedicated e-readers.

“Smartphones and tablets have enriched, diversified and transformed the ecosystem of consumer electronics,” said Rhonda Daniel, senior manager, market research, CEA. “As a result, mobile device owners are re-proportioning the time they spend using other standalone CE devices. While many single-function devices continue to play a distinct and relevant role in our digital lives, consumers are gravitating toward connected mobile devices able to perform multiple functions.”

An overwhelming majority of consumers are adopting smartphones and tablets in order to access the Internet. The study found that 85 percent of smartphone owners browse the Web and 89 percent check email on their devices. Among tablet owners, 92 percent browse the Web and 83 percent use their tablets to check email.

In addition, smartphones are frequently being used to take pictures (92 percent), make voice calls (91 percent) and navigate (76 percent). Conversely, tablets are used for more leisurely activities such as playing games (78 percent), watching videos (66 percent) and reading e-books (61 percent).