Table of Contents
Executive Summary
-
- COVID-19 lockdown sees purchasing fall across the board
-
- Figure 1: Technology products bought in the last three months, September 2018-June 2020
- Smartphone ownership reaches a new peak
-
- Figure 2: Ownership of mobile phones, July 2012-June 2020
- Emphasis on health and fitness drives sports watch ownership
-
- Figure 3: Ownership of wearable devices, June 2015-June 2020
- Digital activities grow across devices during lockdown
-
- Figure 4: Online activities done in the last three months on any device*, June 2018-June 2020
- Use of voice commands surges in lockdown
-
- Figure 5: Other digital activity in the last three months, September 2019 to June 2020
- Recent tech purchases focused on personal use
-
- Figure 6: Purchasing habits during COVID-19, June 2020
- Over half of Brits used technology to connect to the community
-
- Figure 7: Use of technology in COVID-19, June 2020
Headline Data – Technology Ownership and Purchasing
-
- Recent purchasing
- Key points
-
- Figure 8: Technology products bought in the last three months, September 2018-June 2020
- Planned purchasing
- Key points
-
- Figure 9: Technology products plan to buy in the next three months, September 2018-June 2020
- Mobile phone ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 10: Ownership of mobile phones, July 2012-June 2020
- Wearable technology ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 11: Ownership of wearable devices, June 2015-June 2020
- Other personal technology ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 12: Ownership of digital/video cameras and portable games consoles, November 2014-June 2020
- Computer ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 13: Ownership of computers, September 2012-June 2020
- Computer form factors
- Key points
-
- Figure 14: Types of laptop and desktop owned. December 2017-June 2020
- TV ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 15: Household ownership of HD and Ultra HD 4K televisions, September 2016-June 2020
- TV connectivity
- Key points
-
- Figure 16: Household TV connectivity, June 2019-June 2020
- Other household technology ownership
- Key points
-
- Figure 17: Ownership of other household technology products, September 2012-June 2020
Headline Data – Online Activities
-
- Digital activities on computers, tablets and smartphones
- Key points
-
- Figure 18: Online activities done in the last three months on any device*, June 2018-June 2020
-
- Figure 19: Online activities done in the last three months on a desktop/laptop, June 2018-June 2020
- Figure 20: Online activities done in the last three months on a tablet, June 2018-June 2020
-
- Figure 21: Online activities done in the last three months on a smartphone, June 2018-June 2020
- Other digital activity
- Key points
-
- Figure 22: Other digital activity in the last three months, September 2019 to June 2020
Headline Data – Special Focus: COVID 19
-
- Technology purchasing during COVID-19
- Key points
-
- Figure 23: Purchasing habits during COVID-19, June 2020
- COVID-19 technology habits
- Key points
-
- Figure 24: Use of technology in COVID-19, June 2020
Key Consumer Trends and Product Launches
-
- COVID-19 disruption hits global technology markets
- Smartphone ownership hits new peak during lockdown
- Samsung falls behind Huawei globally in the smartphone market
-
- Figure 25: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
- Economic pressures could delay consumers’ desire for 5G upgrades
- Huawei looks to increase its presence across technology markets
- Smart speaker growth driving the use of voice commands
-
- Figure 26: Huawei Sound X
- Samsung continues to push foldable smartphones
-
- Figure 27: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
- Tablets could embrace foldable and dual-screen technology
-
- Figure 28: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
-
- Figure 29: Microsoft Surface Neo
- Focus remains on standard laptops despite innovative new designs
- Apple’s focus on iPad Pro reflected by launch of Magic Keyboard
-
- Figure 30: Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro
- Apple focuses on improved performance in wider iPad range
- Growing emphasis on health data has boosted fitness tracker ownership
- Fitbit adds the Sense smartwatch to its 2020 range …
-
- Figure 31: Fitbit Sense
- … while Google’s acquisition faces scrutiny from regulators
- Leading brands continue to update smartwatch ranges in 2020
-
- Figure 32: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
- Gaming sector sees growth as people seek lockdown entertainment
-
- Figure 33: Nintendo Switch Lite coral edition
- Leading console brands all report increasing sales
- Animal Crossing captures imagination with early lockdown release
- Twitch sees surge in usage as interest in esports grows in lockdown
- Further boost coming to sector with winter console releases …
-
- Figure 34: PlayStation 5
- … although some major software titles could be delayed
- VR usage declines but standalone headsets offer grounds for optimism
Insight: COVID-19’s Impact on Technology Purchasing
-
- What we’ve seen
- There remains a reduced demand for technology purchases
-
- Figure 35: Technology and communications spending intentions for the next month compared to usual, 23 April-11 September 2020
- COVID-19 supply chain issues have limited technology purchases
-
- Figure 36: Impact of stock shortages, by selected demographics, June 2020
- Smartphone ownership reaches a new high
-
- Figure 37: Smartphone ownership, by selected demographics, September 2019 and June 2020
- Recent technology purchases are twice as likely for personal use
-
- Figure 38: COVID 19 technology habits, June 2020
- Better signs ahead as planned purchasing outstrips recent buying …
-
- Figure 39: Recent purchases versus planning purchases, June 2020
- … although purchasing will remain lower than pre-outbreak levels
-
- Figure 40: Planned purchasing, September 2019-June 2020
- Brands must utilise trade-in deals to drive sales throughout recession
- Stores reopening provides a boost but strong online sales service remains vital
- What it means
Insight: Changing Online Habits in COVID-19
-
- What we’ve seen
- Brits spending more time online than ever due to COVID-19 lockdown
-
- Figure 41: UK time online, 2018-2020
- Video calling apps surge as people seek to remain in contact
- Younger Brits are utilising tech to connect to the local community
-
- Figure 42: Staying connected with the community, by selected demographics, June 2020
- Instant messaging has been near universal among 16-44 year olds in lockdown
-
- Figure 43: Instant messaging usage, by selected demographics, June 2020
- Nearly all young Brits accessed social networks during lockdown
-
- Figure 44: Social media network usage, by selected demographics, June 2020
- Voice technology use boosted by lockdown
- Brits turn to video streaming services for lockdown entertainment
- What it means
Insight: Technology’s Growing Role in Health and Fitness
-
- What we’ve seen
- Technology is playing an increasing role in health and wellbeing
- Women are driving expansion in the fitness tracker market …
- … while there has been strong growth among older demographics
-
- Figure 45: Fitness band/sports watch ownership, by selected demographics, September 2019-June 2020
- Reopening of gyms will not mean an instant return for many Brits
- 41% of Brits take part in organised online activities more than before COVID-19
-
- Figure 46: Participation in online activities, by selected demographics, June 2020
- Ring Fit Adventure brings exercise to the Nintendo Switch
-
- Figure 47: RingFit Adventure for Nintendo Switch
- Exercise titles bringing new possibilities to virtual reality
-
- Figure 48: FitXR
- Mindfulness app downloads grow as people focus on mental health
- Half of Brits are happy to download the track and trace app
-
- Figure 49: COVID-19 tracing app downloads, by selected demographics, June 2020
- What it means
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
-
- Data sources
- Abbreviations
Back to top