WASHINGTON – For the first time since the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project began systematically tracking smartphone adoption, a majority (56%) of Americans now own a smartphone of some kind. Overall, 91% of all American adults have some type of cell phone. 

Smartphone ownership is particularly high among younger adults, especially those in their 20s and 30s (although a majority of Americans in their mid-40s through mid-50s are now smartphone adopters), and those with relatively high levels of household income and educational attainment.

Every major demographic group experienced significant year-to-year growth in smartphone ownership between 2012 and 2013, although seniors — defined as those 65 and older — continue to exhibit relatively low adoption levels compared with other demographic groups. Some 18% of Americans age 65 and older now own a smartphone, compared with 13% in February 2012. 

Although growth in smartphone ownership has occurred up and down the economic spectrum, adoption still varies significantly by household income. However, that variation is unevenly distributed across different age groups. Younger adults — regardless of income level — are very likely to be smartphone owners. Conversely, for older adults smartphone ownership is more of an “elite” phenomenon: smartphones tend to be quite prevalent at the upper end of the income distribution but much less common among those with lower income levels. 

Since 2011, the proportion of cell owners who say they own either an iPhone or an Android device has each grown dramatically. Android owners now represent 28% of all cell owners (up from 15% in May 2011), while iPhone owners now represent 25% of the cell owner population (up from 10% in May 2011). Meanwhile, the proportion of cell owners who say they own a Blackberry device has fallen from 10% in May 2011 to just 4% in our most recent survey.