Smart devices are playing a growing role in shaping how UK listeners engage with audio content, both at home and on the move according to new research.
The Infinite Dial UK 2025 was presented today at The Podcast Show in London by Edison Research, with sponsors SiriusXM Media and AdsWizz.
This research for the UK mirrors Edison Research’s original Infinite Dial study, which has tracked digital media consumer behaviour in the U.S. annually since 1998.
The latest findings were shared by Edison Research’s Senior Director of Research, Gabriel Soto, and AdsWizz’s Regional Director for the UK & Ireland, Ollie Chadwick.
Smart device ownership on the rise:
Smartphones remain near-universal in the UK, with 97% of those aged 16+ now owning one – a significant rise from 83% just four years ago.
Smart speaker ownership has also seen an increase, jumping from 25% in 2021 to 45% in 2025. The UK is now 10 percentage points ahead of the US, where 35% of those aged 12+ own a smart speaker.
Meanwhile, 72% of the UK population aged 16+ now own a smart TV, up from 50% four years ago.
The study also reveals how in-car audio consumption is evolving with technology:
38% of UK adults who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month say their primary vehicle is equipped with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay – more than doubling since 2021.
22% now listen to podcasts in the car, up from 15% in 2021.
Podcast consumption in the UK has reached a new high:
68% of those aged 16+ (around 33 million people) have ever listened to a podcast, up from 59% in 2021.
When including people who watch podcast content but don’t listen to it, overall reach rises to 71% (35 million people).
Ollie Chadwick of AdsWizz commented: “The 2025 Infinite Dial data confirms that podcasting isn’t emerging — it has arrived!
“With more than 33 million UK adults now listening, and nearly half watching, podcasting is no longer an audio-only format. It’s a cross-platform experience that rewards creative ambition and demands strategic thinking.
“The future belongs to formats that move fast, tell stories across screens, and turn data into direction.”
Gabriel Soto added: “Advances in technology, including smart TVs in homes and smartphone integration in cars, provide more avenues for listeners to consume online audio content.”
