Gaming & Music Top Global Mobile Usage — Big Opportunity for Pakistani Game Developers?
A recent global report on smartphone usage trends in 2025 reveals that gaming and music are the top two activities people perform on their phones. With 68% of users playing games and 67% listening to music, smartphones have clearly become personal entertainment devices first, with work-related tasks far behind in the list.
In fact, using phones for work only ranked 9th, with just 38% of users reporting it as a common activity.
Top 16 Smartphone Activities in 2025
| Rank | Activity | Share | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Played a game | 68% | Entertainment |
| 2 | Listened to music | 67% | Entertainment |
| 3 | Used social media | 63% | Entertainment |
| 4 | Watched videos, TV, or films | 61% | Entertainment |
| 5 | Paid for something bought online | 47% | E-commerce / Finance |
| 6 | Accessed bank | 47% | Finance |
| 7 | Ordered a product | 42% | E-commerce |
| 8 | Booked food delivery | 41% | E-commerce / Wellbeing |
| 9 | Used the phone for work | 38% | Business |
| 10 | Sent money to a friend | 35% | Finance |
| 11 | Paid using Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc. | 33% | E-commerce / Finance |
| 12 | Read a magazine or newspaper | 33% | Entertainment |
| 13 | Used a medical or fitness service | 25% | Health & Wellbeing |
| 14 | Booked a taxi ride | 22% | Travel |
| 15 | Controlled a smart device | 20% | Misc. / Entertainment |
| 16 | None of the above | 3% | N/A |
An Opportunity for Pakistan’s Game Developers
With gaming leading mobile use globally, the market is clearly expanding fast, especially in Asia. For Pakistan’s growing tech and app development sector, this presents a clear opportunity. Despite increasing smartphone penetration and a large young population, the local gaming industry remains underdeveloped. This global trend highlights the need for:
- Investment in mobile game studios
- Localized game content targeting Pakistani users
- Training and support for new developers
E-Commerce Isn’t Far Behind
Smartphones are also widely used for online shopping and digital payments. Here’s a quick view of how mobile users are engaging in e-commerce:
- E-Commerce Activity Share of Users
- Paid for something bought online 47%
- Ordered a product 42%
- Booked food delivery 41%
- Used digital payments 33%
This suggests strong potential for fintech, delivery apps, and online retail in Pakistan, as long as platforms remain mobile-first.
Final Word
As smartphone users around the world turn to their devices for games, music, and shopping, the data sends a clear signal that the future of mobile is entertainment-first. For Pakistan, it’s time to move beyond just consuming apps and start building them too.
Also read:
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