Mobile screen sizes for 2023 based on data from 2022

After our incredibly successful blogs on mobile screen sizes in 2022 and 2021, our mobile screen size trends blog is back by popular demand for 2023.

We’ve analysed the data from a sample of over 7 million users across different websites, including travel, eCommerce, recruitment, entertainment, and universities, using data from the first quarter of 2023.

So, with that in mind, here are the updated statistics for the most popular mobile phone screen size for 2023.

The graph above shows the most popular device widths for 2023 alongside trends from 2021 and 2020. The data used is from the first 3 months of 2023, compared to the last months of 2021 and also 2020. Using more than 3 months of data at a time tends to muddle data of up-and-coming trends with older data which, generally, isn’t as accurate for comparisons.

Why do we use screen width as a metric?

Devices aren’t all created equally. Devices with the same screen width don’t necessarily have the same screen height. Using screen width simplifies the data.

Of course, screen width isn’t the real metric. Neither is the device’s size or screen resolution.

It’s the viewport.

The real metric lies in what designers can create a frame for or what users are able to see without scrolling or pinching. It’s also what you’ll see within Google Analytics.

Height still matters as that determines how much content you can fit on a screen.

The new mobile screen size trends

This is the first year where we haven’t seen such a clear dominance of one screen width. As we’ve found in previous years, mobile phone manufacturers are still not sticking to the same resolutions. Each year we’re seeing new contenders, with 2023 being no different with the introduction of 393px and 384px that we didn’t see in 2021 or 2020.

412-414px screens are no longer dominating the market with another decrease in usage, giving this size a marginal lead of just 5 percentage points.

• There has been a further decrease in the usage of 412px – 414px wide devices
• There has been a further decrease in the usage of 375px wide devices
• There has been a further decrease in the usage of 320px wide devices
• There has been another sharp increase in the usage of 390px width devices
• There has been an increase in the usage of 428px width devices
• There has been no change in 360px width devices in comparison to 2021

Top device sizes for 2023

Why are screen sizes important?

Screen sizes are important for both marketers and designers. Understanding which devices and screen sizes people are using to browse the internet provide insight into who they need to design and create content for.

As you can see from our year-on-year comparison above, things are changing quickly, with even more reductions in smaller devices and an increase in larger ones.

By understanding screen size trends, marketers and designers can focus their efforts on the most popular device sizes.

When screen sizes and web design go wrong

When website designs do not match screen sizes, it can have a significant negative impact on the user experience. Users may encounter several issues such as distorted or cluttered interfaces, overlapping content, unreadable text, or cut-off elements. This leads to frustration and difficulty in navigating the website.

Inconsistent design across different screen sizes can make the website less accessible.

Users with visual impairments or those who rely on assistive technologies may struggle to access and understand the content if it is not properly adapted to their screen size and resolution.

The consequences of mismatched designs extends to engagement and conversion rates.

Users who find it difficult to view and interact with a website on their device are more likely to abandon it and seek alternatives. This can result in reduced engagement and conversion rates, undermining the website’s effectiveness in achieving its goals.

In addition to user experience issues, a poorly designed website that fails to adapt to different screen sizes can harm the brand’s perception.
It may be seen as outdated, unprofessional, or lacking technological competence, eroding trust and credibility among users.

The implications also extend to search engine optimisation (SEO). Search engines prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their rankings. If a website lacks a responsive design and fails to match screen sizes, it may receive lower visibility in search engine results, leading to reduced organic traffic and limited reach.

What does it mean for designers?

We’ve not moved away from small devices yet.

29% of users are still viewing websites on screens with a width of 360px and 375px. These are the smallest devices we should design for (unless you have the resource to design for all device sizes).

The most common device width is 390px and is most likely growing.

Rik Hopkinson, Design Director at cti digital, shared their thoughts on this year’s data:

“Screen sizes serve as windows, offering designers the opportunity to shape interactions, optimise content delivery, and craft meaningful visual experiences.

Often referred to as viewports, each screen size presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities, demanding adaptability and foresight from designers. By meticulously considering the dimensions, we can tailor our designs to seamlessly fit the available real estate, ensuring content is displayed intuitively and aesthetically across all devices.

Viewports profoundly impact the overall user journey and information hierarchy. Effective web design accounts for the limited space on smaller screens, emphasising clarity, legibility, and simplicity to deliver a cohesive experience. Meanwhile, larger screens allow for more expansive layouts, enabling designers to incorporate additional features, enhanced visual storytelling, and immersive interactions.

Screen sizes are not mere technical specifications; they are the fundamental building blocks that shape the entire user experience.

By embracing the diversity of screen sizes and employing responsive design principles, we work with front-end development teams to empower our users to engage with digital content effortlessly, regardless of the device they choose. By working in sync, and utilising the design systems we use, we create fluidity within our team to cater for responsive design and exceptional user experience.“

How do I find out what screen sizes my website visitors are using?

With the introduction of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and the sunset of Universal Analytics (UA) happening in July 2023, this answer becomes slightly more complicated.

Universal Analytics Screen Sizes

Login to your Google Analytics UA account.
Go to Audience > Mobile > Devices, and click the screen resolution tab.

You’ll be able to see your most popular device screen resolutions here.

Google Analytics 4 Screen Sizes

Login to your GA4 account.

Select reports from the sub-menu

Go to Tech > Overview and scroll until you see users by screen resolution.

Alternatively, you can search ‘screen resolution’ in the search bar at the top and receive insights.

Using data to make informed decisions

We’ve written this blog post each year because it’s something we’d share with our clients and teams. We feel it’s worth sharing more publicly to help others make informed decisions on their website.

If you’d like help optimising your mobile experience for conversions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling 0161 236 1188.