In 2017, the number of smartphone users in Australia was around 19.9 million. This number was estimated to reach 23.6 million by 2026. This represented a smartphone penetration rate of around 87 percent in the country.
“In 2019 over 18.5 million Australians own a mobile phone representing 89.9% of Australians.
Fortunately, smartphone penetration in the country is already high. In 2017, 81 percent of the Australian population used a smartphone and the share was estimated to reach around 87 percent by 2026. This represents just over 23.6 million smartphone users across the country.
Australia was home to 21.30 million social media users in January 2023, equating to 81.0 percent of the total population. A total of 32.71 million cellular mobile connections were active in Australia in early 2023, with this figure equivalent to 124.3 percent of the total population.
In June 2021, iOS held a 55.86 percent share of the mobile operating system market in Australia. It's hardly surprising then, that Apple also had a share of over half of the device market in April 2019. By comparison Samsung, the leading Android device manufacturer, had a share of just over 20 percent.
Apple is currently the most popular mobile phone brand in Australia, with a market share of around 53%.
In Australia, the average age a child acquires a mobile phone is 13.1 years.
There are more than 23 million unused phones in Australia according to industry-funded recycler MobileMuster, and they represent a large amount of natural resources that could be recycled.
Australians keep their phones for 3.5 years, which is up from 3 years in 2017. Australians have had the same smartphone for an average of 21 months, and they plan to refresh in 20 months.
In 2020, just under half (46%) of Australian children aged 6 to 13 used a mobile phone, up from 41% in 2015.
Daily phone screen time, unsurprisingly, varies across generations, with millennials spending the most time on their phones (3.7 hours a day), Gen X following (3 hours), and boomers spending the least (2.5 hours). This means millennials spend around 56 days each year on their phones; boomers spend 39 days.
In 2021, there was an average of 20.5 internet-connected devices per household in Australia. This number was forecast to reach 33.8 by 2025. According to the source, the strongest growing segments were smart security, smart outlets, and smart garden devices.
What's the right age to give your child a smartphone? Parents will have to decide this for themselves, but new research has shown that two in five kids under 12 own a smartphone.
Pressure on parents
By the time kids are in middle school, the pressure from kids can be intense, and parents worry that their child will feel isolated if other kids have phones and they don't. According to Common Sense Media, 42 percent of kids have a phone by age 10. By age 12, it's 71 percent.
Unused old mobile phones now officially outnumber human beings in Australia according to the latest data snapshot from product stewardship outfit MobileMuster, with the group likening the giant hidden e-waste stockpile to a retro cool collectibles market national hoarding addiction.
the average Aussie also checks their phone on average 7.8 times an hour—that's almost every 8 minutes, the most popular apps Aussies say they spend the most time on are Facebook (28%), TikTok (17%) then Instagram (15%), And just over half of Aussies (50.65%) consider themselves addicted to their phones.
Everyone knows that mobile phone theft can happen. However, most people don't realise just how common it is. According to a recent report, 446,000 handsets are stolen each year, which is a staggering 1,222 per day.
You may have experienced losing your phone in the past. This irritating occurrence is not uncommon. A study revealed that 70 million smartphones are lost each year, and a mere 7% are recovered. Are you the type of person who easily misplaces their device?
What is the ideal age for a first phone? Your children could be ready for a smartphone or similar device anywhere from 10 to 14, or during middle school. A sixth-grader (typically 10 to 11 years old) could be a good start for considering a phone or a wearable.
The average age kids get a phone is between 12 and 13. With that in mind, it's up to the parents to be the best judge of whether their child is ready for a cell phone.
The right age to give kids their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn't as important as your kid's maturity level, ability to follow rules at home and school, and sense of responsibility as well as your own family's needs.
As of March 2022, Android operating systems for smartphones held a market share of 53.6 percent in Australia. Android has consistently been the leading mobile phone operating system in the country, however, iOS has been increasing its market share over the past decade.
Japan ranks as the country with the most number of iPhone users worldwide, earning 70% of the total market share. Worldwide median average iPhone ownership stands at 14%.