Smartphones dominate online shopping device preferences across the UK in 2026, with nearly three in five shoppers choosing their phone as their primary purchasing tool. Female shoppers lead this trend at , compared to among males — a ten-percentage-point gap that underscores a stronger mobile-first orientation among women.
Computers remain the clear second choice, though male shoppers show a notably stronger preference for desktops and laptops at , versus among females. This suggests men are more likely to retain traditional screen-based shopping habits, while women skew more decisively toward mobile.
Tablets account for a modest share of shopping activity — among males and among females — reflecting their niche but stable role in the device mix. Smart TVs and streaming devices register just across both genders, indicating that commerce via connected television remains largely undeveloped as a shopping channel in the UK market.
