What is a GB?
A GB stands for a ‘gigabyte’. In terms of internet usage, it determines how much data you can use when not connected to Wi-Fi. The more GB you have, the longer you can use the internet while not connected to a router.
How much GB you need depends on how often you need to use your phone outside your home. Most people need at least a couple of gigabytes of data per month to be able to stream or use social media.
SIM deals with higher amounts of data have increased in popularity in recent years. More and more people are choosing to have huge bouts of data, to avoid the worry of running out before the month’s end.
How much is 30GB of data?
30GB is quite a large amount of data to have at your disposal each month, but whether it’s enough for you depends on how you use your phone.
- Are you outside a lot (not connected to a home router or an open network)?
- Do you like to watch or stream content on-the-go?
- Do you like to use the internet while commuting or on long journeys?
If you answered yes to all three, you’re probably best suited to a 30GB plan (or more!).
How long does 30GB of data last?
For most people, 30GB of data will be more than enough to last for an entire month’s allowance.
When you’re out and about, your phone needs to consume data to complete tasks you ask of it, such as browsing the internet or watching videos. Take a look at how much data each activity uses up per hour to get a better idea of how long 30GB could last.
|
Activity |
Data consumption |
|
Browsing the internet |
|
|
Listening to music |
Spotify 10.8MB per hour (24kbps) 43.2MB per hour (96kbps) 72MB per hour (160kbps) 144MB per hour (320kbps) |
|
Watching Netflix |
1GB per hour (standard definition) 3GB per hour (HD) |
|
Watching YouTube videos |
1.56GB per hour (1080p) 2.7GB per hour (4K) |
|
Browsing social media |
90MB per hour (scrolling) 156MB per hour (interacting) |
|
Using Skype / FaceTime |
Skype
FaceTime |
As you can see, streaming video content, like watching Netflix episodes or YouTube videos, consumes a lot more data than browsing or playing music.
So if you know you’re more likely to only access social media or messaging apps, you may not necessarily need such a big data allowance each month.
However, if you love watching content while commuting or on long road trips, you can see how long 30GB of data would last you in the table below.
How many hours will 30GB of data last for?
Do you want to know if 30GB of data would last enough hours for you? Take a look at our breakdown here.
|
Activity |
Time duration with 30GB* |
|
Browsing the internet |
500 hours |
|
Listening to music |
Spotify 2,777 hours (24kbps) 694 hours (96kbps) 416 hours (160kbps) 208 hours (320kbps) |
|
Watching Netflix |
30 hours (standard definition) 10 hours (HD) |
|
Watching YouTube videos |
19 hours (1080p) 11 hours (4K) |
|
Browsing social media |
333 hours (scrolling) 192 hours (interacting) |
|
Using Skype / FaceTime |
Skype 111 hours
FaceTime 166 hours |
*Calculated based on data consumption values in previous table - 30000MB or 30GB / XXMB or XXGB
Did you know there are 720 hours in 30 days (the average month)? And that’s if you were awake for every hour! So, as you can see, 30GB of data allows you to do many things on your smartphone for days on end without having to use Wi-Fi.
For example, if you only want to browse the internet, you can do that non-stop for almost the entire month before using up all your data! You could also FaceTime loved ones without needing to worry about your mobile data suddenly running out, as well as watching hours and hours of your favourite shows.
According to a 2020 report by Ofcom, the desire for more mobile data has increased by approximately 30%. If you’d rather not worry about running out of data whilst out and about, 30GB of data is more than enough. Of course, you need to know how much data you consume on average, to avoid spending too much money for an allowance you can’t take advantage of.
Is 30GB of data enough for me?
30GB of data is most suitable for higher data users, so if you:
- Send and receive emails frequently
- Watch a lot of videos while not connected to Wi-Fi
- Play games and stream music
- Download apps, games, songs, videos, and more whilst not connected to Wi-Fi
- Communicate and scroll on social media apps for several hours per day
If this is you, then you’ll most likely need a plan that hits or exceeds 30GB of data each month. If you don’t think 30GB, and the above hours, will cover you for 30 days, then you may want to consider an unlimited data bundle.
SIM plans to suit youIf you're looking for a great value SIM plan with no contract, look no further than Asda mobile! For just £15 a month you could get 25GB of data, as well as unlimited minutes and texts. You can also take advantage of 5G, Wi-Fi Calling, roam like you're home, and much more!
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