Smartphone usage: Google and weather beat the Tagesschau

Google search and weather apps are the most important sources of information on smartphones for people aged 50 and over. This is shown by the new emporia Smartphone Study 2026/2027, in which 1,000 men and women aged 50 and over in Germany were surveyed. Accordingly, 75 percent of respondents use Google Search to inform themselves. The weather app follows with 72 percent in second place. News apps, such as those from Tagesschau or local newspapers, are used by only 45 percent as an information source. Voice assistants like Google Assistant or Siri play a subordinate role with only 17 percent usage.

The results align with the general significance of Google search in daily life: In Germany, approximately 207 million search queries are made to Google each day (intenseo, 2026). What particularly occupies people’s minds is revealed by the Google Year in Review 2025: The federal election topped the list of most-searched terms, followed by sporting events such as the Handball World Championship. Among the most frequently asked questions was: “Why is the plate hot after microwaving, but the food cold?”

Whether and how often older users rely on smartphones for information gathering also depends on the usability of the devices. User-friendly smartphones greatly facilitate access to these information sources. The emporiaSMART.8 from the Austrian manufacturer emporia, for example, features a clear menu layout, large icons, and easily accessible functions that enable internet searches or launching the weather app even without extensive prior knowledge.

Karin Schaumberger, Managing Director of emporia Germany: „Access to information, whether analog or digital, is a fundamental right. User-friendly devices support this access.“