Smart devices play a growing role in shaping how UK listeners are involved in audio content at home and, according to new research, at home and on the move.
Infinite Dial UK 2025 was announced today at a London podcast show by Edison Research, along with sponsors from SiriusXM Media and Adswizz.
The UK's study reflects the original Infinite Dial Study of Edison Research, which has been tracking the behavior of digital media consumers in the US every year since 1998.
The latest findings were shared by Gabriel Soto, senior director of research at Edison Research, and Ollie Chadwick, regional director of Adswizz in the UK and Ireland.
Ownership of smart devices on the rise:
Smartphones remain nearby in the UK, and are currently owned by 97% of people over the age of 16. This is a huge increase from 83% just four years ago.
Ownership of smart speakers has also increased, jumping from 25% in 2021 to 45% in 2025. The UK is currently 10 percentage points ahead of the US, with 35% of people over the age of 12 owning smart speakers.
Meanwhile, 72% of the UK population over the age of 16 now owns smart TVs since 50% four years ago.
The study reveals how in-car audio consumption is evolving with technology.
38% of UK adults who have been in and out of the car in the past month say that their major vehicles are equipped with more than twice as many Android Auto or Apple Carplay since 2021.
22% listen to in-car podcasts from 15% in 2021.
Podcast consumption in the UK has hit a new high:
68% of people over the age of 16 (approximately 33 million) have heard podcasts from 59% in 2021.
If you include people who watch podcast content but don't listen, the overall reach rises to 71% (35 million people).
Ollie Chadwick of Adswizz commented:
“Podcasting, which is currently listening to more than 33 million UK adults and nearly half of the viewing, is no longer an audio-only format, a cross-platform experience that rewards creative ambitions and demands strategic thinking.
“The future belongs to a format that moves fast, tells stories across the screen, and turns data.”
Gabriel Soto added: “Advances in technology, such as smart TVs at home and smartphone integration in cars, provide a greater pathway for listeners to consume online audio content.”
