Something I posted in this old thread ...
@Korth wrote:
I offer this rough perspective ...
One email, no attachments = <0.001GB
Webpage, typical = <0.001GB
Webpage, morbidly obese = <0.006GB
Photo, 16MP 3840x2160, compressed = 0.003GB
Photo, 16MP 3840x2160, uncompressed = 0.008GB
Audio/music, CD quality, streaming = ~0.001GB/min, ~0.065GB/hr
Audio/music, HD quality, streaming = ~0.002GB/min, ~0.125GB/hr
Video, SD/480p, streaming = ~0.3GB/hr (30fps), ~0.6GB/hr (60fps)
Video, HD/720p, streaming = ~0.75GB/hr (30fps), ~1.5GB/hr (60fps)
Video, HD/1080p, streaming = ~1.5GB/hr (30fps), ~3.0GB/hr (60fps)
Video, 4K/2160p, streaming = ~7.0GB/hr (30fps)
FaceTime call (iOS) = 0.003GB/min, 0.18GB/hr
Skype video call = 0.024GB/min and 1.44GB/hr (Normal), 0.072GB/min and 4.32GB/hr (HD)
Online gaming = <0.002GB/hr to 0.100GB+/hr (varies)
Download mobile software/app/game, average = <0.060GB (Android), <0.090GB (iOS)
Download mobile firmware/update/game, large = 0.1GB to 0.5GB+ (varies)
Background data = <0.001GB/min (constant trickle)
P2P filesharing (if uncapped by network) = <0.15GB/min and <9.0GB/hr (3G/HSPA+ 2.5Mbps), <6.6GB/min and <396.0GB/hr (LTE 110Mbps)
Background data can be a surprising gotcha. It's like a leaky faucet which should be disabled whenever it's not actually in use and not actually needed.
Video streaming is the big gotcha. Netflix or YouTube can eat your monthly allocation in a few hours. Social media can do the same if they're loaded with video clips. Best to watch all this stuff across free WiFi data instead of across costly cellular data, at a wifi hotspot or at home/work whenever possible.
Normal websurfing, browsing, navigation, and music playbacks don't consume a lot of data but it does all add up. If you want endless music then it's probably best to upgrade your data plan or to download your song library onto a SIM card.
Speedtest sessions consume a lot of data. Especially on newly-activated accounts which haven't yet had PM's "3G" caps applied consistently across the system. Speedtests attempt to move as much data as quickly as possible to measure maximum performances, this can burn through all your data with alarming quickness.
MMS attachments (pictures) require an active cellular data connection but are not counted towards billable data provisions. Self-Serve usage reports each one as an "MMS Event" which consumes 0.000KB of your data.
These numbers also put the value of "Unlimited data" throttled at 128kbps (roughly 0.05GB/hr) into perspective. It's better than nothing, but not by much.
Public Mobile never charges for data overages. You get notifications when you hit 75% and 95% usage thresholds. Once you've used 100% you simply get no more data until you buy more data (when your plan data renews or you purchase add-on data).
