● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Video Streaming and Calls Are Top Smartphone Data Consumers
Key points
- Global mobile data usage is 150-200 exabytes monthly.
- Average smartphone data consumption exceeds 20GB per month.
- Video streaming and video calls are major data drains.
- Data usage depends on resolution settings for video content.
Mobile Data Consumption Trends
The world currently processes between 150 and 200 exabytes of mobile data monthly, a figure projected to reach 328 exabytes by 2031, according to Ericsson's mobile traffic data report. This represents more than a doubling of current usage. The average smartphone now consumes over 20GB of data per month, a substantial increase from 4.9GB just a few years ago.
Primary Data-Consuming Activities
While individual usage patterns vary, video streaming, social media, video calls, software updates, cloud backups, and music streaming are identified as the main activities that consume significant amounts of smartphone data. Among these, video streaming and video calls are the largest drains. Users can often manage data consumption through quality settings within these applications.
Video Streaming Data Usage
Video streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video consume considerable data, particularly at higher resolutions. For example, YouTube uses approximately 500MB per hour at 360p, 3GB per hour at 1080p, and over 15GB per hour at 4K UHD. Netflix consumes 0.7GB per hour for Standard definition and up to 7GB per hour for Ultra HD (4K). Amazon Prime Video uses about 0.72GB per hour for 'Good' quality (480p) and nearly 6.8GB per hour for 'Best' quality (4K).
Video Call Data Usage
Video calls also contribute significantly to data usage. A typical video call consumes around 500MB per hour. Platforms like Zoom use more data, especially for group conferences. A one-on-one Zoom call at 1080p uses over 1.62GB per hour, while a group call at the same resolution consumes 2.48GB per hour.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Video streaming services and video calls are the primary consumers of smartphone data, with usage varying significantly based on resolution settings. Global mobile data consumption is projected to more than double by 2031, with the average smartphone now using over 20GB monthly.