Apple iPad3s
When consumers were asked whether they would rather receive a tablet computer or a laptop as a holiday gift this year, an overwhelming 79 percent indicated that they would rather receive a tablet. Seventy-two percent of shoppers also indicated that they believe tablet computers will replace e-readers as gifts this year. Conducted from Oct. 18 to 26, 2011, the survey includes responses from 3,574 U.S. online shopping consumers.
When those who indicated a preference for tablets over laptops were asked to select all of the reasons why, portability and light weight appeared to be dominating factors.
Eighty-five percent of these shoppers said they preferred tablets because they are easy to carry and transport, 73 percent preferred the tablet’s light weight, 67 percent cited convenience, and another 67 percent enjoyed the touchscreen.
Sixty percent preferred the tablet’s smaller size, 56 percent said that they can use the tablet for reading on the go, 49 percent cited speed, 42 percent liked its multimedia features that are similar to a smartphone, and 41 percent cited an exceptional battery life.
Apple’s® iPad® is top-ranked tablet and e-reader
The power of the Apple brand is likely to remain in full force this holiday season. When consumers were asked which tablet they would prefer to receive as a gift this year, an astounding 83 percent said they preferred the Apple iPad or iPad 2.
This was followed by only 5 percent who said the Amazon Kindle Fire, 4 percent who said the Samsung Galaxy Tab and 2 percent who said the HPTouchPad. Other tablets, such as the Motorola Xoom, BlackBerry PlayBook, Toshiba Thrive, ASUS Eee Pad and ASUS Eee Slate, ranked lower.
The iPad was also the number-one e-reader, with 62 percent of consumers preferring it to other e-readers. Twenty-seven percent indicated a preference for the Amazon Kindle, 7 percent said the Barnes & Noble Nook, 2 percent said the Sony e-Reader, and another 2 percent selected other brands.
“Apple has experienced enormous success with its groundbreaking iPad, and our survey data confirms that enthusiasm for the brand will likely remain during the 2011 holiday shopping season,” said Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. “We expect that tablets, such as the iPad, will be a clear gift choice for many multitasking, budget-conscious consumers looking for an efficient and convenient computer at a relatively reasonable price.”
Consumers prefer the iPhone® over other smartphones
PriceGrabber’s survey data revealed that consumers’ love for Apple extends to smartphones as well. When asked which smartphone brand they would prefer to receive as a gift this holiday season, 72 percent of consumers said Apple’s iPhone. Seven percent said Samsung, 6 percent indicated that they prefer HTC, 5 percent said BlackBerry, and another 5 percent said Motorola®. Brands including T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson and Google Nexus ranked lower.
