People are also spending more time with their phones, iPhone or Android mobile, using the devices for almost two hours (1 hour and 54 minutes) every day on average, it said.
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According to the report, a third (33pc) of internet users see their smartphone as the most important device for going online, compared to 30pc who are still sticking with their laptop. Almost 33% of Britons opted for smartphones as the device of choice in 2014, ahead of 30% who preferred laptops.
Ofcom has released the latest Communications Market Report, which shows that smartphones are now UK adults’ preferred devices for connecting online, overtaking laptops for the first time.
Two thirds of UK adults now own a smartphone, a sharp increase from 39 per cent in 2012.
The finding comes from United Kingdom telco regulator Ofcom’s 2015 Communications Market Report – a serious stat-fest for those wanting to understand Brits’ digital habits. People in Britain have taken more than 1.2 billion selfies in the a year ago.
The Ofcom report also reveals that despite the rise in popularity of smartphones and internet, people are still fond of traditional media like TV and radio.
Some 57% of internet users said new communications methods have made life a bit easier, while 23% of adults admitted they remain “hooked” to social media.
Smartphone users with 4G shop online more than those without 4G (55% compared to 35%). The Apple iPhone was the UK’s most popular smartphone brand, especially among the young, while the larger Samsung devices scored highly among older users. The number of adults owning a smartphone has trebled since 2011.
Scotland has become a “smartphone society” with new research showing that the handheld machines are the most popular route to getting online.
This could be related to the increase in the availability and take-up of 4G services.
When the researches split them up in age demographics, the young 16 to 24 group was once again victorious as 61 percent (61%) of these individuals rated themselves as 7 or above.
It was not just smartphones which reported increased use for online access, as tablets rose to 19% in 2015, up from 15% in 2014 and 8% in 2013. Over the past 12 months this has allowed many more people to watch video clips from YouTube or Vine and TV on-demand services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix on the go.
Those aged 16-34 are most likely to prefer smartphones, although usage is also growing amongst those aged 55-64.
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On average we spent 3 hours and 40 minutes a day watching on a TV set in 2014, 11 minutes less than in 2013 and the second consecutive year of decline.
