The State of Mobile in 2022: How to Succeed in a Mobile-First World As Consumers Spend 3.8 Trillion Hours on Mobile Devices

Mobile continues to dominate as consumers spent a record 3.8 trillion hours on mobile in 2021, according to App Annie, the leading mobile data and analytics company helping brands and publishers create winning experiences. The company revealed several trends on how the world continues to move toward mobile in its State of Mobile 2022 report.

“Mobile is the Greatest of All Time and the go-to device of the future,” said Theodore Krantz, Chief Executive Officer. “The big screen is slowly dying as mobile continues to break records in virtually every category – time spent, downloads and revenue.”

2021 was record-breaking as consumers continue to embrace a mobile lifestyle. In the top 10 mobile markets, a staggering 4.8 hours a day were spent on mobile. Consumers spent $170 billion on apps, which is up 19% from last year. Downloads continue growing at 5% year over year to reach 230 billion.

Additional findings include:

• Publishers released 2 million new apps and games, bringing the cumulative total to 21 million
• Despite IDFA, advertising spend topped $295 billion, up 23% year over year, and is estimated to top $350 billion next year
• Mobile gaming grew to $116 billion an increase of 15%, fueled by preference to hyper-casual
• Apps earning more than $100 million in consumer spending grew by 20%
• Led by TikTok (an increase of 90% globally outside of China), 7 of every 10 minutes was spent on
  either social, photo, and/or video apps
• Worldwide consumer spend on dating apps surged past $4.2 billion (55% increase from 2019)
• Time in shopping apps reached 100 billion hours, up by 18% year over year, led by fast fashion,
  social shopping, and by big-box players
• Food and Drink apps hit a new milestone at 194 billion sessions in 2021 (up 50% year over year)
• Metaverse catapults leading avatar apps forward with 160% year-over-year growth

“Mobile brings us closer together whether virtual or in person,” said Krantz. “The future will be based on an immersive entertainment experience you create. You won’t watch movies, you’ll star in them.”

This year’s State of Mobile report identifies macro trends for leading brands and publishers to perform optimally across gaming, fintech, retail, social, video, and more.