Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad is all set to eat up other tablets’ sales in the U.S. during the holiday season. According to the latest reports, based upon a survey done in the U.S., nearly 72% of prospective tablet buyers are planning to buy one of the iPad models in the next three months.
The findings are based upon the study conducted by consumer research agency Changewave earlier in November this year. The whole objective of the study was to track down the changed mindset of the prospective tablet buyers in the US before and after the launch of the iPad Air especially during the holiday season when most of the products are tagged with lucrative discounted price.
In August, only 55% prospective buyers were willing to opt for the iPad, while by November the figure shot up to 72%. Before Apple introduced the iPad Air in October this year, 13% and 12% of prospective tablet buyers in the U.S. were willing to buy Samsung Galaxy Tab and Google Nexus, respectively. Interestingly, post iPad Air launch, this figures shrunk to single digits.
The iPad Air leads with a distinctive margin than other models of the iPad projected market. Nearly 55% are willing to opt for the iPad Air compared to 16% of those who will fall for the iPad Mini with Retina display. The demand for older versions of the iPad stays thin but 17% of prospective iPad buyers also claim they are still not sure about which model to opt for.
The Apple iPad Air is the fastest growing tablet among all the other models of the iPad. Within the first 45 days of launch, the iPad Air had already gained 3.5% of the total iPad market – fastest growth ever for any iPad model in Apple history. A majority of iPad Air sales would be driven from upgrades or new sales, as expected. The iPad 2 users are most likely to upgrade to the iPad Air and new small screen tablet users in the U.S. are likely to buy the iPad Mini with retina display.
The rosy picture might not last long as Apple iPad is constantly losing grounds against Android tablets. It’s been estimated that by 2017, three out of every fours tablet sold would be powered by an Android while Windows OS and iOS would fight to power the left over tablet devices.
Source: ChangeWave Research
