How long can you go without using your mobile?

Six in 10 adults ‘couldn’t cope’ longer than a day without their mobile phone, a study has found.

A survey of a wide range of smartphone users found three in 10 never leave their house without their phone. More than one in 10 (13 per cent) use their device to help them find their way to work while 16 per cent use it as a mirror.

Others rely on their smartphones for taking photos (68 per cent), checking the time (64 per cent) and looking at the weather (62 per cent). It also emerged 27 per cent are completely reliant on their device to get to their destination, with 35 per cent admitting they have never used a printed map.

The study, commissioned by HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, to launch the Nokia G11 and G21 smartphones, found more than one in 10 (12 per cent) admitted their phone battery dying would give them ‘anxiety’. As a result, 55 per cent claim running out of battery is a ‘nightmare scenario’, with the average adult charging their phone at least twice a day to avoid being caught out.

The findings come after the brand installed temporary emergency phone chargers in several London locations to give people the opportunity to give their phone a crucial battery boost while on the go.

Petri Hayrynen, from HMD Global, home of Nokia phones:

“Smartphones offer so much, it’s unsurprising that we’re dependent, making the common complaints around battery life a real issue. That’s why we launched these smartphones that also uniquely offer a 3-day battery life.”

To mark the launch of the new Nokia G21 and G11 handsets, Nokia phones have appeared in battery emergency SOS Boxes to showcase the 3-day battery life.

The study found 48 per cent of those polled would be upset if they lost their mobile phone – more than if they lost their bank card (46 per cent), car keys (40 per cent) or wedding ring (25 per cent).

It emerged people typically check their mobile phones 20 times a day – spending a total of two hours looking at their screens over a 24-hour period.

Of those who venture outside with their smartphone, 77 per cent use online maps or an app to plan their journey. While 28 per cent use their devices to book their travel and holiday trips.

But four in 10 of those polled via OnePoll would be stressed if they run out of battery during a long journey, while 16 per cent would struggle if they ran out of juice during a meeting. Overall, smartphone users blame video calls and emails as key contributors for draining a phone’s battery.

Petri Hayrynen, from HMD Global, home of Nokia phones:

“There are other ways we can preserve our phone battery and offset that angst. From using network connections selectively to muting unnecessary sounds and stopping apps from running in the background, these all help the cause and keep you switched on for longer.”