USB tethering and mobile hotspots are two methods used to share a smartphone’s internet connection with other devices. The amount of data consumed largely depends on the activities carried out over the internet rather than the method of sharing itself. Contudo, there are some distinctions:

1. USB Tethering:
   • Eficiência: USB tethering is generally more efficient than a hotspot. It provides a direct connection between the device and the smartphone, which can lead to a more stable and faster connection.
   • Battery Usage: It consumes less battery as the smartphone gets charged while connected to the device (like a laptop).
   • Data Usage: The actual data usage would depend on the activities carried out on the connected device. Since the connection is often more stable and faster, it might lead to quicker loading of high-bandwidth content like video streaming, which can consume more data.
2. Mobile Hotspot:
   • Conveniência: Hotspots provide the convenience of wireless connectivity and the ability to connect multiple devices.
   • Battery Drain: Hotspots typically consume more battery as the phone emits a Wi-Fi signal.
   • Data Usage: Just like USB tethering, data usage depends on the usage habits of the connected devices. Contudo, since multiple devices can be connected, there’s a higher potential for increased data usage.

Em suma, neither method inherently uses more data than the other; it’s more about how much data is used by the devices connected through these methods. A stable and fast connection (often seen with USB tethering) might lead to increased consumption of high-bandwidth content, which can increase data usage. reciprocamente, a hotspot’s ability to connect multiple devices can also lead to higher data usage if many devices are actively using data-intensive services.