US Dual Smartphone Ownership Rises to 18% in 2025 as Workers Split Work and Personal Lives
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 27
US Dual Smartphone Ownership Rises to 18% in 2025 as Workers Split Work and Personal Lives
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 27
18% of people in the United States reported owning two smartphones in 2025, up from 15% in 2024, according to a Vorhaus Advisors survey.
Many users say the extra device helps enforce work-life boundaries by keeping business calls and messages separate from personal and family communication.
The shift cuts against years of device consolidation, with some people now carrying two or even three phones as larger, more specialized gadgets regain favor.
That behavior reflects a broader push to disconnect after work, with users framing a second phone as a practical way to shut off job demands.
Is the two-phone trend a clever life hack or a costly surrender to a broken work culture?
As new wellness apps and AI emerge, is the second-phone solution already becoming obsolete?