I was always told – timing is everything to ensure optimum results. Just when Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is bracing up to face Android in India, this report diffuses Apple’s excitement with regards to the tablet market in India 2013. Barely two days ago Apple started selling the new iPad Air in India and today a report from Cyber Media Research (CMR) claims only 10% tablet users in India prefer the iPad against 87% of those who prefer Android powered tablets. The study also showcases that people in India have a higher brand recall of Samsung when it comes to the tablet space than any other device maker such as Lenovo or even the homegrown Micromax, thanks to the aggressive marketing strategy.
Tablet Market In India 2013: Android Tablets vs iPad
Indian consumers increasingly prefer tablets and the country’s younger demographics have added to the adoption of mobile Internet access devices. With changing consumer lifestyles, the Indian market presents a favorable opportunity for vendors.” said Satya Sundar Mohanty, Senior Manager, Demand-side Research, CMR.
The study on Tablet market in India 2013 also tracked down the usage behaviour and usage preferences of tablet users.
- Social media usage and entertainment on the go have emerged as major triggers to purchase tablets among users. Three out of four table users in India claim portability and mobility as the biggest factors behind ownership.
- Nearly 51% of tablet users claimed they spend more than 2 hours with the device every day. And with a growing penetration of mobile internet, especially 3G, the usage is expected to rise further in future.
- Tablets have become a major form factor in users’ communication preferences. Nearly 40% of tablet users in india claimed that they reach out to their device several times in a day to email, chat or message.
- Generally addressed as a conservative market for paid apps, India is showing a radical shift in app adoption. 18% of tablet users have claimed they paid for some apps that they use. This could be treated as positive sign for India’s developer community who could focus on paid apps solving more ground level country specific challenges.
The CMR report is based upon the study conducted across 20 cities in India between September and November 2013. With a sample size of 3,600 respondents, the survey covered 2,400 tablet users and 1,200 non-tablet users to understand the current and future trends of the tablet industry in India.
Source: CMR
