Reviews.org Cell Phone Usage Stats 2025

Americans check their phones 205 times a day

By Trevor Wheelwright

Jan 01, 2025

5 min read

How often do people check their phones? The average American checks their phone 205 times a day, or almost once every five minutes while we’re awake.

According to our recent survey, over 43% of Americans admit feeling addicted to their phones. However, self-reported cellphone addiction is down 24% compared to last year. Maybe those pandemic-era scrolling marathons are finally getting old, or maybe we’re getting a bit burned out from being so online all the time. In the worst case, fewer people think of themselves as addicted despite not changing or possibly even increasing their cell phone time.

Meanwhile, experts continue to highlight how social media can exacerbate mental health challenges, especially for younger users, and warn against misinformation that oversimplifies these complex issues.

So how are habits looking these days? Let’s take a closer look at how Americans spend time with our cell phones—our constant companions.

Cell phones stay with us day and night, at home and on the go

From the moment we wake to the last scrolls before sleep, our phones work as extensions of ourselves. Over 80% of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up, and more than half keep their devices within arm’s reach while they sleep.

Leaving home without a phone? That’s a no-go for 78% of us. Even on the throne, 65% of people can’t resist checking their phone (toilet time is prime meme time, apparently). For nearly half of Americans, going without a phone for more than 24 hours isn’t just rare—it’s never happened. And when notifications pop up, three-quarters of us pounce on them within five minutes. Battery anxiety is real, too—nearly 40% of people feel panic the moment their charge dips below 20%.

Although we often have reasons to justify our constant cell phone use, our habits often stray far from connection, productivity, or safety—and sometimes directly contradict them. Over half of us have texted someone in the same room (because why talk when you can type?), over 38% admit to using their phones during dates, and an alarming 27% do so while driving.

Americans' Cell Phone Usage and Habits

Americans check their phones 205 times per day.
80.6% check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up.
78.2% feel uneasy leaving their phone at home.
76% check their phones within five minutes of receiving a notification.
65.7% use their phone on the toilet.
53.7% have texted someone in the same room.

51.3% sleep with their phone at night.
43.2% consider themselves “addicted” to their phones.
48.3% have never gone longer than 24 hours without their cell phone.
39.6% feel panic or anxiety when their phone battery goes below 20%.
38.1% use or look at their phone while on a date.
27% use or look at their phone while driving.

For those trying to cut down on phone time, check out our guide on how to reduce data usage to stay mindful of screen time.

Cell phones consume a lot more of our time than you may realize. In fact, the average American spends 5 hours and 1 minute each day on their cell phones. At that rate, the average American will spend over 2.5 months (76.3 days) on their phones each year.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom scrolling cell phone world, many of our habits have improved since the last time we surveyed folks.

How cell phone habits changed in 2024

Americans are checking their phones more than before—205 times a day, up from 144 last year, marking a whopping 42.3% jump. Yet, fewer people are calling themselves “addicted” to their phones, with self-reported addiction dropping 24%.

What are some of the better changes we’ve seen? Using a phone while eating dinner dropped 41.5%, which suggests more people are being present during their meals. Phone use while working also significantly dropped by 31.9% (which may be a mix of workplace policies, focus on productivity, or things like using other devices to communicate). We see another big drop (42.2%) in people who would prioritize saving their phone in a house fire or disaster.

What are some of the more negative changes we’ve seen? Martin Scorcesse and other masters of cinema might hate to hear that phone use during movies has skyrocketed by 52.4%, rising from 34.6% up to 88.8%.

Question	2024	2023	Difference
How often we check our phones per day	205 times	144 times	42.3%
% of Americans who feel uneasy leaving their phone at home	78.20%	75.10%	4.13%
% of Americans that check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up	80.60%	88.60%	-9.03%
% say they have never gone longer than 24 hours without their cell phone	48.30%	54.90%	-12.02%
% use or look at their phone while driving	27.00%	27.10%	-0.37%
% that check their phones within 5 minutes of receiving a notification	76.00%	75.10%	1.20%
% that use their phone on the toilet	65.70%	75.30%	-12.75%
% that have texted someone in the same room as them before	53.70%	68.70%	-21.83%
% that says they feel a sense of panic or anxiety when their cell phone battery goes below 20%	39.60%	47.10%	-15.92%
% that sleep with their phone at night	51.30%	60.10%	-14.64%
% that use or look at their phone on a date	38.10%	45.80%	-16.81%
Do you use and/or look at your phone while working/at work?	38.10%	70.00%	-31.90%
Do you use and/or look at your phone while watching TV?	65.00%	91.80%	-26.80%
Do you use and/or look at your phone while watching a movie at the theater?	88.80%	34.60%	54.20%
Do you use and/or look at your phone while eating dinner?	25.00%	66.50%	-41.50%
Have you ever texted someone in the same room as you?	55.50%	68.70%	-13.20%
Do you use your phone on the toilet?	53.70%	75.30%	-21.60%
Do you sleep with your phone at night?	65.70%	60.10%	5.60%
Do you panic or feel a sense of anxiety if the battery on your cell phone goes below 20%?	51.30%	47.10%	4.20%
"In the event of a house fire or other disaster, would you make an effort to take your phone with you?"	39.60%	81.80%	-42.20%
Would you consider yourself to be addicted to your phone?	85.80%	56.90%	28.90%
Does having another person use your phone cause you anxiety or stress?	43.20%	44.70%	-1.50%
"In the first 30 minutes after losing your phone, do you experience stress or anxiety?"	36.30%	71.20%	-34.90%
Have you ever gone longer than 24 hours without your cell phone?	68.40%	54.90%	13.50%
Have you ever endangered yourself to avoid the loss or damage of your cell phone? (EX: by entering a roadway or going past safety barriers)	48.30%	17.50%	30.80%
Have you ever gone into debt purchasing a cell phone?	10.70%	17.40%	-6.70%
Do you feel that it’s important to have the latest model of a cell phone?	9.90%	25.00%	-15.10%
Have you upgraded your phone within the last year?	14.90%	50.40%	-35.50%
Have you switched cell phone providers within the last year?	34.90%	29.40%	5.50%
"If you could only have one, would you rather keep your cell phone rather than keep your car/vehicle?"	16.20%	36.10%	-19.90%

Purchasing priorities are to be shifting, too: Fewer folks feel the need to splurge on the latest model (-15.1%), and 6.7% are avoiding debt over new phones. In fact, the number of people upgrading their phone dropped by 35.5% too. And when it comes to the stress after losing a phone, only 36.3% get worked up compared to last year’s 71.2%—showing that, overall, we’re more resilient and less worried about getting (temporarily) disconnected.

Meanwhile, switching phone providers saw a slight bump, with 5.5% more people making the change this year. If you count yourself among those looking to switch providers to find a better price or coverage, check out our picks for the best cell phone plans.

Best cell phone plans

Compare top cell phone plans by provider

Provider	Best for	Our plan pick	Plan price (1 line)	Details
Mint Mobile	Best deal for new customers	Unlimited Data Plan	$15/mo. for first three months	View Plan
Tello	Best budget plan	Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan	$25/mo.	View Plan
Xfinity Mobile	Bundle deal	Unlimited Data Plan	$45/mo.	View Plan
Spectrum	Best bundle alternative	500Mbps internet + Unlimited mobile	$50/mo.	View Plan
Visible Wireless	Coverage	$25 Unlimited Plan	$25/mo.	View Plan
US Mobile	Best family plan	Unlimited Basic	$75/mo. (3 lines)	View Plan

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Pro Tip: Whether you’re upgrading your phone or looking for a better deal, consider bundling your services for savings. Explore our top picks for internet and mobile bundles.

Cell phone usage by generation

When smartphones first came into your life seems to factor into phone usage.

It’s unsurprising that Generation Z, who have never known life without the internet or smartphones, and Millennials, who grew up during the internet’s rise, lead the way in smartphone screen time. Generation X, who adopted mobile technology later in life, isn’t far behind, averaging 4 hours and 54 minutes per day.

Boomers, by contrast, spend about half as much time on their phones as their younger peers at 3 hours and 18 minutes daily. The Silent Generation sees the least smartphone engagement, averaging just 1 hour and 16 minutes per day, reflecting a much more limited role for these devices in their daily lives.

Generation	Smartphone Screen Time
Generation Z	6h 18m
Millennials	6h 2m
Generation X	4h 54m
Boomers	3h 18m
Silent Generation	1h 16m

Engagement varies across generations in both frequency and duration. Millennials lead with the most frequent phone pickups, averaging 324 daily or 20 per hour, indicating short, frequent interactions. Generation X follows with 238 daily pickups, or 15 per hour, showing a more moderate engagement.

Gen Z picks up their phone 185 times a day, averaging 12 pickups per hour, suggesting longer, less frequent sessions. Boomers and the Silent Generation have the fewest pickups, averaging 143 and 68 daily, respectively, reflecting a more reserved approach to smartphone use.

Generation	Hourly pickups	Daily pickups
Millennials	20	324
Generation X	15	238
Generation Z	12	185
Boomers	9	143
Silent Generation	4	68

The generations most addicted to phone time follow the same order as the generations with the most screen time: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and then the Silent Generation.

Generation	Percentage Reporting Phone Addiction
Generation Z	55.80%
Millennials	54.60%
Generation X	46.20%
Boomers	29.30%
Silent Generation	16.70%

Millennials are the most likely to check their phone notifications quickly, with 89.5% of them doing so within 10 minutes. You’re more likely to get a later response from the other generations, where the likelihood ranges from 84% for Gen Z to 69% for Boomers and 53.3% for Silent Generation.

Generation	Percentage Likely To Check Phone Within 10 Minutes
Millennial	89.50%
Gen Z	84%
Generation X	83.80%
Boomer	69%
Silent	53.30%

Millennials are also the most anxious when they lose their phone, with 80.8% feeling stress over the separation, followed by Gen X, Gen Z, The Silent Generation, and Boomers.

Generation	Percentage Likely To Feel Anxiety After Losing Their Phone
Millennials	80.80%
Generation X	68.80%
Generation Z	67.40%
Silent Generation	63.30%
Boomers	63.00%

Millennials are leading the way in upgrading their phones, with 41% planning to make the switch. Generation X follows at 36.3%, while Generation Z is close behind at 34.9%. On the other hand, Boomers and the Silent Generation are less inclined to upgrade at 24.7% and 23.3%, respectively.

Generation	Percentage Likely To Upgrade Their Phone
Silent Generation	23.30%
Boomers	24.70%
Generation X	36.30%
Millennials	41.00%
Generation Z	34.90%

The statistics clearly show America’s dependence on cell phones, but we’re also seeing encouraging signs of people seeking healthier balance and connection with the real world. While our phones help us navigate daily life, taking the time to disconnect and focus on our surroundings is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with them.

Sometimes, all it takes to feel more in control of your digital world is cutting down on time and costs—or boosting your speeds. Whether you’re ready to upgrade your devices, optimize your internet, or find a more budget-friendly mobile plan, we’ve got the guides you need to make smarter, more efficient choices:

Methodology

Reviews.org surveyed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older with a +/- 4% margin of error and a confidence level of 95%. The survey results were weighted to reflect characteristics of the United States population using available data from the US census.

Respondents were asked to refer to their phone’s screen time report to determine the average number of times per day they check their phones, in addition to how much time in total they spend on their phones per day.

Written by

Trevor Wheelwright

Trevor’s written about YMYL (your money, your life) topics for over six years across editorial publications and retail/eCommerce sites. His work’s been featured on Forbes, RealSimple, USA Today, MSN, BusinessInsider, Entrepreneur, PCMag, and CNN. When he’s not researching and writing, you can find him around Salt Lake City, Utah, snapping photos of mountains and architecture or seeking out some good tunes and friendly faces.