Does the Device Screen Size Affect Data Consumption? Yes and no.

Is there a relationship between screen size and data consumption? Based on the difference between typical data consumption for smartphones and typical data consumption for PCs, the answer can be clearly considered “yes”.

But PC users consume more data more than tablet users or smartphone users. So it is reasonable enough to argue that there is a relationship between screen size and data consumption.

Device Usage Increase, Monthly MByte

Device type	2012	2017
Non smart phone	6.8	31
M2M Module	64	330
Smart phone	342	2.660
4G Smart phone	1.302	5.114
Tablet	820	5.387
Laptop	2.503	5.731

Source: Cisco VNI Mobile Forecast, 2013

But there are nuances. OneAs screen sizes grow, people consume significantly more data when connected using at least a Wi-Fi network. OpenSignal proposes.

The study also suggests that when connected using the mobile network, the mobile device screen size actually doesn’t have much of an impact on the amount of data consumed.

For example, data usage over Wi-Fi doubles from a device with a six-inch square surface area (like the Galaxy Ace) to a device with a nine-inch square screen (like the Galaxy SIII).

On the other hand, there is only a weak correlation between screen size and data usage over mobile network connection. This suggests that people commonly use cell phones in the same way on the go. Screen size does not change the behavior.

The behavior seems to change when devices with larger screens have access to the Wi-Fi connection. As screen sizes grow, people consume significantly more data.

SCREEN SIZE AND DATA USE IN WI-FI CONNECTION