The smartphone will soon blow past the tablet in the U.K. when it comes to mobile shopping, with smartphones grabbing 51.5 percent of spend next year.

The big reason is consumers are loving smartphones more than tablets and using them more, according to the new GlobalData research. Spending via both devices is expected to grow 112 percent in the next five years, focused mostly on clothing and footwear purchases, according to the report.

In response to the predicted trend, retailers should encourage downloads of their mobile apps by adding features to aid conversion and improving functionality, stated the research.