Smartphones are embedded in our daily routines—and it’s not just apps that are fueling the usage. Smartphones play music through connected speakers, collect and display fitness data, relay images from security cameras, and configure smart homes. Ongoing investment in ancillary devices is likely to further embed smartphones and other mobile devices in our lives.

Even as smartphone sales level off, the broader smartphone economy—sales of hardware, content, and services—is booming. We expect such “smartphone multiplier” sales to drive US$459 billion in revenue in 2020 alone, making the combined market worth over US$900 billion. Two of the biggest drivers in the multiplier category are wireless headphones and wireless charging—both in their relative infancy and poised for explosive growth.

As smartphones have become more integral to modern lifestyles, a great deal of research has focussed on how, when and why people use them. Earlier surveys reveal that most reach for their phones within half an hour of waking. And yes, 48 per cent of our respondents say they overuse their phones. Yet these same people appear to care little about controlling their usage: Despite the growing range of tools for managing excessive smartphone use, only 6 per cent reported using, for instance, screen time trackers.

Mobile phones and games have always made a compelling pair. In this year’s survey, 15 per cent of respondents who play games said that they play as soon as they wake up; a quarter play while commuting and 65 per cent while relaxing at home. Men and women both report playing games on their smartphones, but women are much more likely to prefer casual games, while men prefer sports titles and racing games.

Despite ongoing data privacy breaches and the introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Deloitte research shows the volume and range of the data consumers share has only grown in most countries. This may be due in part to more devices sharing data with third parties. Regardless, consumers’ scrutiny of the terms and conditions associated with apps and devices remains scant—about 80 per cent of adults rarely, if ever, read them.