The amount of cellular data consumed by iOS 16 or any specific app can vary depending on several factors, including the app's design, content being loaded, and user behavior. While 28MB for 2-3 minutes of scrolling on Facebook without watching videos or using auto-play may seem relatively high, it can vary based on factors such as image quality, ads, and other data-intensive elements within the app.
Here are a few suggestions to help manage and reduce cellular data usage on your iOS device:
- Disable Auto-Play: As you've mentioned, disabling auto-play for videos and media within apps can significantly reduce data usage. This prevents videos from automatically playing when scrolling, saving on data consumption.
- Enable Data Saver Mode: Utilize the data saver mode or low-data mode available in certain apps, if supported. This can help optimize data usage by reducing the quality of images, disabling auto-downloads, or limiting background data.
- Restrict Background Refresh: By disabling background app refresh for specific apps, you can prevent them from consuming cellular data in the background when you're not actively using them.
- Manage App Settings: Check the settings within individual apps to see if there are any options to optimize data usage or limit data-heavy features, such as high-quality image loading or preloading of content.
- Monitor Data Usage: Regularly check your device's data usage statistics to identify any apps or activities that consume significant data. This will help you understand which apps are using the most data and make informed decisions about managing their usage.
Remember, data consumption can vary based on your individual usage patterns, app configurations, and network conditions. Adjusting settings and monitoring data usage can help you manage and control the amount of cellular data your device consumes.