Study: 64% of U.S. households own smartphones

Arlington, Va. -- The dominance of the mobile channel is illustrated in a new survey from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which reveals that two-thirds (64%) of U.S. households now own smartphones, surpassing ownership of basic cell phones 51%) for the first time, according to a new study.



The 16th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study also shows that, despite the continued growth of online retail sales, 85% of U.S. households purchasing CE products in the last year did so at brick-and-mortar retail stores. But households that bought CE devices over the past year say they are 49% more likely to make CE purchases online in the year to come.



In other findings:

• Consumers’ appetite for mobile products remained strong in 2013, and the mobility trend will continue in 2014 with four of the top five planned purchases this year focused on a mobile lifestyle.

• In 2014, the top consumer electronics (CE) products U.S. households plan to purchase are smartphones (27%) and over- or on-the-ear headphones (27%).

• Also among the top planned purchases are televisions (20%); laptop, notebook or netbook computers (18%); and tablets (16%).

“Building on consecutive years of strong, mobile device adoption, consumers continue to embrace a connected lifestyle in the home and on the go,” said Kevin Tillmann, senior research analyst, market research at CEA. “Consumers are now turning to many of the emerging connected products entering the market today, such as smart watches, connected fitness devices and smart thermostats.”