Bigger phones mean bigger bills

The figures, from NPD Group are gathered from the US market and show that owners of smartphones with screens that measure 4.5in upwards consume 44% more WiFi and cellular data each month - some 7.2GB in total - compared with the 5GB that owners of smaller smartphones average.

Until recently, smartphones with a display bigger than 4in were a rarity (as were phablets), but according to NPD, over the past 12 months their availability and popularity has more than doubled. In November 2012, 11% of phones on the market boasted a 4.5in or greater display, but now 28% of current devices on sale fall into that category. And it's been the Android fraternity that has been driving this trend.