Observed Signal · Sep 19, 2026 · Research / Study · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Consumer Apps / Data Usage Market: Meta AI Found to Consume Most Mobile Data Among Apps
A study by eSIM provider Maaltalk measured the cellular data consumption of 95 popular mobile apps over five minutes of typical use on an iPhone with Wi-Fi off. The results show Meta AI as the biggest data hog, consuming 442 MB, nearly three times more than Disney+ (150 MB) and almost four times more than YouTube (113 MB). Streaming services varied widely: Disney+ was the heaviest streaming app, while Netflix and Hulu were more efficient at 55 MB each. Spotify consumed 85 MB, far exceeding rivals like Apple Music (7 MB). The study highlights that generative AI tools and video streaming are major data drains, offering tips for users to manage their mobile data usage.
Consumer-focused study on mobile data usage; not directly relevant to B2B adtech industry operations.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Maaltalk tested 95 apps over 5 minutes on iPhone with Wi-Fi off.
- Meta AI consumed 442 MB in 5 minutes, the highest among all apps.
- Disney+ consumed 150 MB, the most among streaming apps.
- Netflix and Hulu each consumed 55 MB, tying at rank 21.
- Spotify consumed 85 MB, over 12 times more than Apple Music (7 MB).
Connected Companies & Entities
8 Entities mappedDisney
Global entertainment owner spanning streaming, advertising, sports and franchises.
“Disney+ grabbed the #2 spot overall......”
Netflix
Streaming platform with subscription and advertising revenue.
“Netflix ... tied at #21......”
Meta
Consumer internet platforms monetised through advertising, apps, subscriptions and VR.
“Meta AI was the biggest data hog......”
Amazon
Global commerce, cloud, advertising and subscription platform company.
“Amazon's Prime Video sat close behind......”
Hulu
Streaming platform combining subscriptions, live TV and premium advertising.
“Hulu ... tied at #21......”
Spotify
Audio streaming platform with subscriptions, ads and creator tools.
“Spotify tied with HBO Max at #10......”
Alphabet
Digital platform conglomerate centred on advertising, media and software.
“...YouTube ... at 113 MB......”
Microsoft
Diversified software, cloud, advertising and gaming platform company.
“...Microsoft Teams (137.2 MB)......”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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