80% of Tablet App Downloads Will Be from Games, Digital Publishing, Social Networking, and E-Commerce Categories in 2016

​iPad and Android media tablet users have become and will remain avid app users over the next five years, averaging more than 31 downloads per year per media tablet. A new market intelligence study on emerging tablet applications found that 11 of the 13.7 billion app downloads forecasted for iPad and Android media tablets in 2016 will be focused on four categories: games, digital publishing, social networking, and e-commerce.

“Media tablet app consumption will mimic smartphone app use in some ways, but in many ways, it will be very different,” says Mark Beccue, senior analyst.  Digital publishing of books, magazines, and newspapers will flourish on media tablets in a way never seen on smartphones.  Increasingly, consumers will opt for the more versatile media tablet over dedicated eBook readers.  Leveraging unparalleled interactivity and design, publishers will gain new readers, including seniors (ages 60+) – who won’t need custom, large-print publications anymore – and children (ages 1-9).

E-commerce will be transformed by media tablets as significant numbers of consumers forego online shopping on desktop computers for shopping on media tablets.  And while e-commerce will continue to depend on websites, apps will become increasingly important to shoppers who will take full advantage of the media tablet’s touchscreen interface and even camera and microphone capabilities.

Media tablets will become increasingly popular with groups that haven’t been associated with computing or mobile devices in the past – seniors and young children. “The magic of media tablets for seniors and children is the touch screen interface. It’s so intuitive,” adds Beccue.  “These demographic groups will rely heavily on downloaded apps over web surfing on their media tablets.” Apps designed for young children, such as books and interactive, educational games will become increasingly popular and may even propel media tablets to become the de facto replacement of personal DVD players, particularly in cars. In 2016, nearly one billion media tablet apps designed for young children will be downloaded.

ABI Research’s “iPad, Android Tablet Apps” provides an in-depth look at media tablet applications, including forecasts by app categories by world regions and mobile device.  

The report is a component of ABI Research’s Mobile Applications Research Service.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 40+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.