Among Germans surveyed for Most Used Devices for Online Shopping in Germany by Age 2026, smartphones dominate across nearly all age groups, with 80% of 18–24 year-olds and 78% of 25–34 year-olds naming them as their primary shopping device. The share declines steadily with age, falling to 65% among 45–54 year-olds and 53% among 55–64 year-olds — yet even at these levels, smartphones remain the leading choice.
The 65+ cohort stands apart as the only age group where computers outrank smartphones, with 65% preferring a desktop or laptop versus just 23% choosing a smartphone. This reversal highlights a clear generational divide: younger Germans shop almost exclusively on mobile, while older consumers rely on traditional screens. Tablets account for a modest share across all groups, peaking at 11% among those 65 and over. Smart TVs and streaming devices register negligible usage throughout.
These patterns align with broader demographic and economic shifts tracked in data such as the Changing Median Age of Population in Germany (2000–2030), which points to a growing older consumer segment that retailers must serve across multiple device types. The Device Usage Breakdown in Germany (%) further contextualises how hardware preferences vary nationally, underscoring the importance of platform-agnostic shopping experiences for German e-commerce strategies.
