The rapid growth in average mobile internet consumption is prompting smartphone users to keep a closer eye on their data usage, according to infohub.kz.
As Engadget reports, streaming video and video calls remain the biggest data consumers. Watching YouTube videos in 4K resolution can use more than 15 GB in a single hour, while 1080p requires about 3 GB. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video use up to 7 GB per hour at maximum quality. Group video conferences on Zoom in high definition also burn up to 2.5 GB per hour, as the system loads separate streams for each participant.
Social networks consume data depending on the content format. An hour of scrolling through the TikTok feed or watching short videos on Instagram Reels takes between 750 MB and 1.5 GB. Text-based platforms like X and LinkedIn are far more economical, but video usage increases their appetite as well.
Music services consume less: Spotify on basic settings uses about 43 MB per hour, but listening to uncompressed audio on Apple Music can burn up to 2.9 GB.
Background processes pose a hidden threat to data limits. A major iOS or Android operating system update can weigh from several hundred megabytes to 12 GB. Background backup and cloud storage synchronization can silently consume the same amount of data. Experts recommend downloading heavy content and updates over Wi-Fi to preserve your mobile data plan.