Smartphone penetration as share of population in Australia 2017-2026

With a 2G network shutdown due across the country, Australian mobile owners will soon have to convert to smartphones to be able to use their mobile phones. Fortunately, smartphone penetration in the country is already high. In 2017, 81 percent of the Australian population used a smartphone and the share was estimated to reach around 87 percent by 2026. This represents just over 23.6 million smartphone users across the country. With the uprising of 5G networks, along with advancements in mobile technology, the way Australians use smartphones may change in the near future.

The changing smartphone landscape

The pace at which smartphones are transforming has been rapid. Developments in wireless technology and hardware have been propelled forward due to the requirements of today’s smartphone users. Tasks that can be accomplished with a smartphone have become more advanced and smartphones are becoming more integrated into our day-to-day lives. Among many other uses, Australians are using their smartphones for fitness and health tracking, digital payments, gaming, and social networking. Intrinsically linked to this, mobile internet user penetration will likely continue to increase.

Leading smartphone brands

Tech giant Apple was the market leader in terms of the number of smartphones sold in Australia. Smartphone sales were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to many vendors facing supply constraints and store closures around the world. Even still, Apple has remained the dominant smartphone brand, while iOS has maintained an over 50 percent market share of mobile operating systems.