Data & Research

Apple's iPad top of Christmas lists in US as 44% of 6-12 year olds lust after iOS tablet

Popular with 13 and over, too

Apple's iPad top of Christmas lists in US as 44% of 6-12 year olds lust after iOS tablet
Developers of apps aimed at a younger audience just might find the latest statistics released by Nielsen informative to say the least.

According to the firm's look at Christmas consumer habits, the top consumer electronics device wanted by children aged 6-12 is Apple's iPad. And by some distance, too.

Besting Xbox

Nielsen reports 44 percent of kids surveyed expressed an interest in buying the device within the next six months, compared to 31 percent in 2010.

It also puts iPad way ahead of other Christmas favourites, like Nintendo DS on 25 percent, Kinect for Microsoft's Xbox 360 on 23 percent and PlayStation Move on 10 percent.



Indeed, iOS devices as a whole came top of the pile, with iPod touch and iPhone nabbing spots 2 and 3 on the list, too, with 30 percent and 27 percent respectively.

Appy Christmas

Older kids, too, have a hunger for iOS.

Among those aged 13 and over in the US, 24 percent are interested in buying an iPad in the next 6 months, again up from 18 percent the previous year.



Apple doesn't enjoy a clean sweep in this category, however, with non-Apple tablets on 17 percent sitting above iPhone on 15 percent.

Non-Apple smartphones also come in at 14 percent, with iPod touch further down on 8 percent.

[source: Nielsen]

When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.