A new survey from Gartner finds that Apple iPad owners use their devices more often than people who own other brands of tablets. In fact, 80 percent of iPad owners are heavy users—defined as those who use their tablets at least ten times a day.
Despite the growing popularity of tablets with enterprises, entertainment remains the most popular use for tablets, accounting for half of the time users spend with the devices. Those who owned an iPad or a Samsung tablet spent about 30 minutes more per day on entertainment activities than those who owned other brands.
When designing new apps, the mobile development industry might want to consider another trend Gartner discovered—the use of multiple screens. “People often use several devices at once, so it seems we are turning into a society of multitasking, multiscreen users,” said Gartner’s Meike Escherich. “Tablet users, for example, continue to use tablets most in the evening, between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. This suggests the use of tablets as companions to television viewing and other living-room activities. Smartphones are used more for ad hoc research or quick sessions on social media Websites while on the move or engaged in another screen activity.”
