Our mobile devices have become a critical part of our lives, but which ones do people own and use? Here is a collection of the top trends shaping the web and mobile spaces today, as well as the meanings behind the numbers.
Mobile and desktop tie for popularity
In 2016, mobile web browsing overtook desktop traffic in terms of volume for the first time. As of May 2019, desktop has regained the top spot at 48.65% but mobile is close behind at 47.5%.
Closely mirroring the market split above, the most popular OS is Windows on desktop at 38.49% and Android on mobile at 36.79%. Over a decade after creating the smartphone category, iOS on Apple mobile devices holds a respectable 13.54%.
It’s likely that the desktop/Windows and mobile/Android positions will switch in the near future, particularly as mobile devices continue to be adopted in emerging markets.
Whether or not mobile overtakes desktop, and holds onto the position, there’s no denying the sheer size of the market. For those who are who are thinking of optimising and/or advertising for mobile devices, there is a significant opportunity ready to be capitalised on.
Mobile is the dominant screen size
The most popular screen size (17.14%) is 360 x 640 pixels, which is a resolution typically used by mobile devices. Standard HD (1366x768) comes second at 10.02%, while 1080p/full HD (1920x1080) is at 8.18%.
While the first group of stats suggest a market split between desktop PC and mobile, in this category mobile devices have a clear edge. Newer mobile devices are now also featuring higher resolution screens, so some of the standard and full HD numbers can be attributed to mobile as well.
Chrome owns the Internet
Despite making a late entry to the browser race in 2008, Google’s Chrome browser has grown to be the market leader at 62.7%. This number is no doubt helped by Chrome being the default browser on Android devices, not to mention that device manufacturers often include their own Chromium-based browser.
In second spot is Apple’s Safari at 15.89%, which is the default browser on iOS and OS X devices. Mozilla’s Firefox comes third at 5.07%, which indicates its popularity as a desktop browser rather than a mobile one.
Win the hearts of your customers
These are the some of the web and mobile preferences of users today. They may change in the future, but it won’t be vastly different from what is being observed now, namely the popularity of mobile-optimised devices, browsers, and websites.
With mobile users five times more likely to abandon a task if a site isn’t optimised for mobile, a great user experience is expected across all devices. In fact, a seamless, cross-device experience is considered “very important” for the majority (83%) of users.
If you don’t meet users’ expectations, feedback can be swift and highly damaging via social media and reviews. Find out how we can help you navigate the challenges of compatibility by enhancing your customer experience.