# Smartphone data capacity and that little number at the top **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2017, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489 "2017-01-29T06:45:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489/21 "2017-01-30T01:32:03Z")
How much data do you get with your plan? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489/22 "2017-01-30T05:08:35Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > How much data do you get with your plan? 3072 MB, per billing period. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489/23 "2017-01-30T05:48:33Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > 3072 MB, per billing period. That’s what, about 3 GB a month? I echo **LSLGuy**. Use less data. If you watch a lot of YouTube, use wifi for that. If you use your phone for navigation, turn off your GPS. You can probably download maps and use them offline. Don’t use Pandora or other streaming services. 3 GB isn’t enough to be using your phone exclusively for data. Use wifi whenever you can. Don’t use mobile data to update your apps. Use wifi instead. Also, download a data manager such as Opera Max. It routes your data through a VPN (virtual private network) and compresses it before it gets to your phone. You might save a few hundred MB of data every month and avoid overage charges. Edit: I just noticed you don’t watch video or play games. You should still use wifi when you can. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489/24 "2017-01-30T06:27:56Z")
It’s possible dougie\_monty is viewing a lot of pages that automatically refresh, even on his android phone. The fact that he’s no longer running out of data after doing this one change would indicate so. So, yes, you’ve found the secret by stumbling onto the simple art of browser management. Good for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-data-capacity-and-that-little-number-at-the-top/778489.md?page=1)