14 DAY TRIAL // The days when consumers chose a tablet merely for the sake of its brand are now gone. At least that's what recent information posted by research firm Gartner has revealed.
More and more customers are choosing to ignore the more complicated features that might come with some high-end slates, and instead look for basic functionalities and most importantly an accessible price range.
Gartner explains that users “tend not to need as many features as early adopters, and they will often settle for a simplified version of a new product, as long as it has enough features for their needs and quality isn't compromised.”
According to their research, 47% of new tablet shipments around the world will be focused mostly on basic models by the end of 2013. With this information in mind, manufacturers have to consider the needs of late first-time buyers if they want to increase their business.
Principal research analyst for Gartner, Meike Escherich, highlighted that “late first-time buyers of media tablets have different expectation and buying criteria for early adopters, and this has a significant impact on how media tablets must be marketed.”
Leaving the accessible price mantra behind, what exactly are people looking for now? It appears that a vast majority of tablets are used for entertainment, which includes playing games, digital reading, streaming media or watching live TV.
Gartner showed that 50% of tablet owners engage in such activities. The rest of the time is spent on communication and productive activities such as writing blog posts.
The study has been conducted across US, UK and Australia.