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Spending on games up by 13% among US iPhone users

Games account for largest share of apps installed on average user's device

US iPhone owners are spending record amounts with the average spend in games more than double the four other main categories combined.

According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, spending in mobile games increased by 13 per cent in 2017 over the year prior.

While it was lifestyle apps that saw the largest growth with an increase of 110% from $1 to $2.10, games dwarfed the category in real terms with a growth of $4.

Last year, the average US iPhone user spent $36 on games. Entertainment apps -- which were the second highest earners on the platform -- reached an average spend of just $4.40 for the year.

Spending does not include shopping or ride sharing apps, but does reflect revenue generated from apps such as Netflix and Tinder.

Sensor Tower also revealed a seven per cent increase on the number of games downloaded across the active iPhone user base.

Games made up the largest share of app downloads for the year with a seven per cent increase to just over 13 installed per device, up from 12.3 in 2016.

In comparison with other apps, the average iPhone user has more than three times as many games installed on their device than photo and video apps, the second most popular category.

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Ivy Taylor avatar
Ivy Taylor: Ivy joined GamesIndustry.biz in 2017 having previously worked as a regional journalist, and a political campaigns manager before that. They are also one of the UK's foremost Sonic the Hedgehog apologists.
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