One-third of Americans prefer their smartphone over sex

By Mike Flacy August 3, 2011

phone-over-sex — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In a study conducted by TeleNav, the navigation company asked over 500 people what they would rather give up for a week instead of their smartphone. A third of respondents would rather give up sex for seven days than go without a smartphone within reach and 70 percent of these people were female. Computers and shoes were more important to smartphone owners with about one in five people preferring to give those up for a week. More than 70 percent of people wouldn’t mind skipping alcohol for the full week. Chocolate came in at 63 percent, caffeine at 55 percent and exercise at 54 percent.

Between specific smartphones, iPhone users were the most dependent on their phones. Forty-three percent of iPhone users had no problem giving up shoes for a week to keep the iPhone in their pocket. In addition, 40 percent wouldn’t mind giving up their toothbrush. Ironically, 83 percent of iPhone users would rather have another iPhone owner as a romantic companion, despite any lack of oral hygiene from that missing toothbrush. Twenty-two percent of respondents declared that they wouldn’t mind being away from their significant other for a week rather than lose the smartphone. Between 10 and 18 percent of smartphone owners have even ended a relationship through the phone with an email, text, voice mail or update on a social network like Facebook or Twitter. When it comes to sleeping next to the smartphone, 66 percent of people kept it on the nightstand or in the bed.

About 20 percent of respondents would rather lose their purse or wallet than the smartphone and 31 percent routinely check the phone while in the movie theater. About half of iPhone and Android users have used smartphones to update a social network and around 20 percent have used it to “check-in” at a business. Android and BlackBerry owners are the most frugal as over 60 percent haven’t paid more than $1 for an app. iPhone users are twice as likely to have spent over $40 on apps compared to Android smartphone owners.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Mobile

The best fitness workout accessories for your smartphone

Athletic accessories feat image.

Athletes and civilians alike discovered early how mobile devices could serve as an essential tool for tracking and training. Smartphones assist in countless ways, from playing music to finding the best resources and locations to keep your workout interesting. But they don't always do this alone, and a huge industry has emerged around fitness accessories designed to work alongside your phone to help you achieve optimal results, but also to link, sync, and track data, and get feedback on your performance. Of the many smartphone compatible health and fitness accessories out there, we've pulled together a list of some of the highest-quality devices to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Apple Watch

If you're looking for the best fitness accessory for your iPhone, look no further than the Apple Watch 6 (or Series 5, or SE). As a fitness companion, it has no equal, and even older models of the watch provide all the necessary tools and resources to keep you fit. Health related features include ECG, fall detection, activity tracking, and heart rate alerts. Of course, it also lets you make or take calls, send messages, navigate through your playlists, and stream Apple Music directly from your wrist. The Apple Watch is a great activity tracker with activity rings and data that are easy to interpret and can motivate anyone working to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Mobile

How to tell if your smartphone battery needs to be replaced

iPhone battery settings

Nothing lasts forever -- especially not smartphone batteries. Those tiny lithium-ion powerhouses that run your iPhone or Android phone are all consumables, which means they have a limited life span. The longer you hang on to your device, the more your battery will degrade, and eventually, it will have to be replaced.

Smartphone batteries don't usually just conk out. There are telltale hints over time, mostly relating to your phone's performance. You may notice that the device is slow to respond to taps and prompts or that apps take longer to launch or respond to commands. Or, perhaps your phone drains more rapidly than in the past, is slower to power up, never powers up to 100%, shuts down unexpectedly under normal conditions, or will not run unless it is plugged into the charger. Other more ominous signs include the phone heating up while charging or feeling thicker (perhaps the result of a ruptured battery), or perhaps there are no signs of life no matter what you do. Any of these circumstances can signal a failing, dead, or even hazardous battery.

Deals

This Verizon smartphone deal gives you up to $1,000 for your broken phone

The iPhone 12 Pro Max in-hand.

It’s a question as old as smartphones themselves: What do we do with our old iPhone or Android phone when we no longer need it (especially if it’s cracked or no longer turns on)? Well, to go along with these smartphone deals, Verizon has a solution. Right now, you can take advantage of a special offer and receive up to $1,000 when you trade your old phone into Verizon. The newest 5G phones, and a place to trade in old phones for up to $1,000! Where do we sign up?

This deal sounds too good to be true; it even gave us pause at first. The catch, if you can call it that, is that you need to switch over to Verizon if you want the maximum rebate on your new Phone. Verizon is offering up to $800 for your old phone (and that would be for the newest phone; chances are you will get something less); the other $200 comes in the form of a gift card that can be used toward your new phone, or to purchase accessories or other Verizon services.