98% of US adults own a cellphone; smartphone ownership is 97% among 18–29s but 78% among those 65+ (Pew, 2025)
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "How many seniors have smartphones?"
- True origin
- Pew Research Center — Mobile Fact Sheet
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2025
- Data as of
- Survey Feb. 5–June 18, 2025
- Last checked
- What the source says
The vast majority of Americans – 98% – now own a cellphone of some kind. ... Ages 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Cellphone 99 99 98 95 Smartphone 97 96 90 78
- Method & sample
- National survey of 5,022 US adults, Feb. 5–June 18, 2025.
- Drift between quote and source
- Total smartphone ownership is 91%; age gaps matter when targeting older audiences
- Interest
- n/a (nonpartisan research center funded mainly by The Pew Charitable Trusts).
Safe rephrasing
Pew's 2025 survey found 98% of US adults own a cellphone; smartphone ownership is 97% for ages 18–29 and 78% for ages 65 and older.
Sources we opened
- Pew — Mobile Fact Sheet (primary)
Machine-readable: /api/claims/pew-98-percent-own-cellphone-seniors-78-smartphone.json · Last checked 2026-10-16