Whilst tablets have stolen the limelight in the consumer technology sector over the past couple of years, the smartphone has always remained consumers’ most wanted product – with a third of people hoping to upgrade to a new handset in the next three months.
Now that the distinction between smartphones and tablets is becoming increasingly blurred (driven by the emergence of more phablet-sized models) consumers’ usage of such devices may evolve too.
To date, smartphones have been primarily a tool for communication, and tablets a device for play/entertainment, while PCs have been the ‘all-rounders’ – as users feel comfortable conducting a wide array of tasks on their largest, most powerful device.
With most consumers being unwilling to replicate PC-like behaviour on smartphones, the introduction of larger screen smartphones as well as the launch of new services such as Apple Pay (a mobile wallet), could alter consumers’ perceptions of what a smartphone should be used for.
This report examines the trends in consumer technology and digital media in the UK, looking at changes in device ownership over the past three months and consumers’ purchasing intentions. Next the report looks at changes in online activity and analyses what industry developments are driving these changes.
This edition of Digital Trends also has a focus on subscriptions to online media (eg music streaming and online news), taking a look at the current and potential reach of such services, as well as consumers’ attitudes towards online media as a whole.
Definition
The term ‘laptop’ in this report refers to a computer intended for mobile use, which has the display, primary input device and speakers integrated into one unit.
The definition encompasses notebooks, netbooks, MacBooks, Chromebooks and Ultrabooks.
The category includes laptops that can be converted into a tablet form factor such as those with swivel displays or sliding keyboards, or those with a detachable keyboard which provides greater functionality, such as improved battery life or additional connection ports (defined as ‘hybrid laptops’ or ‘convertible laptops’).
The category excludes tablets that can be docked with a standalone keyboard to convert to laptop form factor (eg Microsoft Surface), defined as ‘hybrid tablets’.
The term ‘desktop’ in this report refers to a computer that is intended for regular use at a single location. It encompasses towers, all-in-ones and small form factors such as mini and nettop PCs.
The term ‘tablet’ in this report refers to a slate form factor computer designed for mobile use, with an integrated touchscreen as the primary display and mode of input.
Smart TV refers to internet-enabled television sets, which generally give access to apps (eg BBC iPlayer, LOVEFiLM, Skype) and a web browser when the television is connected directly to the internet.
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