More than half of Americans now own a smartphone, according to the latest poll by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Just 15 months ago, smartphone owners accounted for over half of phone-owning Americans, but Pew now reports that a simple majority of Americans — 56 percent — own phones, taking into account those who have no cellphone at all. Nearly half those people who didn’t own a cellphone two years ago have become phone owners, with only nine percent of Americans remaining off the mobile grid.
Pew: over half of all Americans now own a smartphone
is The Verge’s executive editor. He has covered tech, policy, and online creators for over a decade.
Pew also found that Android and iOS have an equal marketshare among US cellphone owners. However, there’s a marked distinction when that’s viewed by economic status: consumers with lower incomes tend to own Android devices, while those with higher incomes are more likely to own iPhones. Though Apple offers older-generation iPhones at a discount, they’re still pricier than many entry-level Android devices, some of which can sell for under $100 without a contract.
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