What is a GB?

A GB (gigabyte) is a way of measuring how much information you lot have on an electronic device. 1GB is approximately 1,000MB (megabytes).

The corporeality of GBs yous take on your SIM program determines how much mobile data y'all have available each month.

How much is 1GB of data?

Ofcom'due south 2021 report states that phone users (on average) opt for 4.5GB of mobile data for the calendar month. In comparing, a 1GB bundle is a fair bit beneath average. This is a reflection of how much information we use these days - 1GB simply isn't enough for nearly!

But would 1GB of data exist enough for you lot? Allow's accept a expect.

How long does 1GB of data terminal?

Different tasks on your telephone need varying amounts of mobile data to work. Some will only eat a few MBs per hr, whereas other activities will take up a few GBs.

To know whether 1GB is enough, information technology's useful to know (approximately) how much information each smartphone activity would apply upward per 60 minutes.

Activity

Data consumption

Browsing the internet

60MB per hour

Listening to music

Spotify

ten.8MB per hour (24kbps)

43.2MB per hour (96kbps)

72MB per hour (160kbps)

144MB per 60 minutes (320kbps)

Watching Netflix

1GB per hour (standard definition)

3GB per hour (HD)

Watching YouTube videos

one.56GB per hour (1080p)

2.7GB per hour (4K)

Browsing social media

90MB per hr (scrolling)

156MB per hour (interacting)

Using Skype / FaceTime

Skype

270MB per hour

FaceTime

180MB per 60 minutes


The more than data-intensive the activeness (the bigger the file), the more than of your allowance it will eat up. Streaming video content consumes so much due to how big video files are, compared to say, accessing a web page.

Listening to music, the radio, podcasts, or audiobooks on mobile information is less data-intensive, equally the files are smaller, and your mobile data isn't trying to play video also every bit sound. You tin control how many MBs you lose per 60 minutes by playing your audio content in a lower definition.

How many hours will 1GB of data terminal for?

At present y'all know how many MB or GB each smartphone activity will consume, we tin calculate how long 1GB could last before running out.

Activeness

Time duration with 1GB*

Browsing the internet

16.vi hours

Listening to music

Spotify

92.5 hours (24kbps)

23 hours (96kbps)

thirteen hours (160kbps)

6.9 hours (320kbps)

Watching Netflix

ane hour (standard definition)

0.3 hours (HD) / 18 minutes

Watching YouTube videos

0.6 hours (1080p) / 36 minutes

0.37 hours (4K) / 22 minutes

Browsing social media

eleven hours (scrolling)

half-dozen.4 hours (interacting)

Using Skype / FaceTime

Skype

three.seven hours

FaceTime

v.five hours

*Calculated based on data consumption values in previous table - 1000MB or 1GB / XXMB or XXGB


Equally you can see, a 1GB bundle is quite minor, and doesn't let you to do a lot each month before it runs out.

For reference, in that location are 720 hours in an average month, and so if y'all watched one hour-long Netflix episode in standard definition, you'd be out of information! 1GB isn't even enough to stream a video on YouTube that'southward over half an hour long. It's safe to say this bundle isn't suitable for people who like to watch videos whilst out and about.

Yous could at to the lowest degree scroll social media for a couple of hours a week before draining your allowance, as well as browse the internet for an 60 minutes every other 24-hour interval. You can also stream sound content in lower qualities for quite a long fourth dimension.

Is 1GB of information enough for me?

Just put, 1GB is not suitable for users who stream video or sound content a lot.

This bundle size is best for people who:

  • Primarily use their mobile data for searching the internet
  • Heed to audio content sometimes
  • Video call friends or family once or twice a month

SIM plans to adjust y'all

At Asda mobile, nosotros don't offer a 1GB bundle, but we do have a 3GB packet with unlimited minutes and texts for simply £5 per month!

With this bundle you lot'll too get 4G speeds, 99% UK population coverage, 'roam similar you're at home' in 36 European destinations, no contracts, and no credit checks.

Y'all can too top-upward your information each calendar month if you find yourself needing a fiddling more.

One time you've establish your perfect bundle, why not browse our online shop for the best phone to match?

3GB for £5

Discover more

If 1GB isn't right for yous, check out our other data guides here:

  • 250MB
  • 2GB
  • 3GB
  • 5GB
  • 6GB
  • 8GB
  • 10GB
  • 15GB
  • 20GB
  • 30GB
  • 50GB
  • 100GB

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