Happy Snaps! Brits have 13,000+ memories on their phone
- New research from Three UK reveals Brits hold more than 13,000 photos and videos on their phones and spend a whole day every year reminiscing over their favourite moments
- From holding onto restaurant menus we’ll never visit again (55%) to an app we’ve only used once (47%), 3 out of 5 people (62%) admit they’re running out of storage space.
- With Three, customers can upgrade to all the latest devices at competitive prices, alongside enjoying exclusive perks on Three+ rewards app
8am, 2nd September 2025: From treasured selfies and viral memes to pet videos and apps galore, our phones are overflowing with sentimental memories. Research from Three UK reveals the average Brit has over 9,000 photos stockpiled including snaps of family (26%), pets (17%) and fit checks (12%). With over 4,200 videos, Brits use an average of 7% of their total camera roll to hold onto favourite memes, such as Ibiza’s Final Boss, #TeamConrad vs #TeamJeremiah and Taylor Swift’s engagement.
As a country, we can’t stop cramming our phones full of our favourite photos and memories. In fact, nearly 4 out of 5 people (79%) say looking back at old photos makes them smile, with three quarters (75%) of Gen Z saying it makes them feel ‘nostalgic’. What’s more, Brits spend almost 24 hours a year reminiscing as they scroll through different moments on their device galleries.
With autumn fast approaching, Brits are experiencing that ‘new term’ feeling and are excited to upgrade to a new phone (70%) to fill with more memories, whilst over half (54%) are planning to buy a new handset to unlock better storage and performance capabilities.
With a new device, comes the declutter prep. Most people (64%) only realise their memory is at its limit when the “storage full” notification appears, as surprisingly less than 1 in 10 people (9%) check their phone storage on a weekly basis. But with 3 out of 5 people (62%) currently admitting they’re out of storage, Brits should look out for photos of restaurant menus they’ll never visit again, as over half (55%) admit to having these stocked up, alongside duplicate snaps (52%). And it’s not just photos, Brits have countless apps from parking, games, to QR code scanners filling up handsets, as nearly half (47%) report their phone is full of apps they’ve only used once.
A Three spokesperson said “Brits absolutely love capturing and sharing their favourite moments – as they should! At Three, we know autumn is the perfect time to make room for fresh memories, declutter our apps and photo galleries to help our new phones feel fresh, run smoother and to make the most of our upgrade. With competitively priced handsets alongside a selection of great perks that make enjoying a new device even better, there’s no better time to experience that fresh phone feeling.”
Alongside the latest handsets, Three helps you get the most out of your phone with a range of great rewards. From discounted shopping, entertainment, and food and drink offers through the Three+ rewards app, to inclusive roaming in 160 destinations, plus the unlimited flexibility of the Three Your Way plan, there’s plenty to enjoy beyond just the handset itself.
For more information, visit https://www.three.co.uk/why-three
ENDS
Three UK is one of the brands of the newly merged VodafoneThree, which is the UK’s largest mobile provider. VodafoneThree is investing £11bn in building the UK’s best network, delivering reliable, quality connectivity to all communities – from big cities to small towns, and everywhere in between – reaching 99.95% population coverage by 2034. Just weeks into the rollout, millions of customers are already seeing the benefits of a nationwide boost from unrivalled access to roam across each other’s networks at no extra cost.