A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) indicates that iPad owners replace their devices less frequently than iPhone owners, with the iPad replacement lifecycle more resembling that of a Mac, which is replaced by users on an average of every four years.
The longer iPad replacement cycle may be more like the Mac, which tends to be replaced every 2-4 years, or possibly even televisions which have a five to 10-year ownership span. (Via Fortune)
CIRP surveyed 2,000 U.S. customers who had purchased an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in 2013. The results show that almost half of iPad owners would go a week or more before replacing a stolen, broken or lost tablet. While 80% of iPhone owners go less than two days before replacing their device given the same scenario.
Twice as many iPad owners will bequeath their old iPad to friends or family members when buying a new device.
Future iPad sales could be affected, as consumers hold onto their iPads for a longer time period, and many new iPad owners would be receiving a second-hand device rather than buying a new one.
Even in the face of a longer lifecycle for the iPad, Apple is still the top tablet vendor in the world, with Gartner’s March 2014 report showing the company with a 36% worldwide market share.
