What consumers want from the new iPad
Tomorrow Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPad, and while it's possible to make a few educated guesses as to what we'll see, consumers already have a pretty good idea of what they want to see, and what will encourage them to part with their hard-earned cash.
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A survey carried out by ecoATM – a firm that runs automated eWaste recycling stations, part of the Outerwall family, which also includes Coinstar and Redbox – has identified what consumers see as the top reasons for upgrading.
At the top of the list of features driving consumers to upgrade – both with 52 percent – are better battery life and a lower price point. Neither come as a big surprise, given that battery life is an unceasing anxiety for smartphone and tablet users, and price is usually the key factor for upgrading.
Faster processor is also high up, and consumers want their new device to do more and feel faster than their old hardware.
What about a gold-plated option? Only 9 percent of respondents said that this was of interest to them. So it seems that while some people do like the gold finish, it's not a significant factor driving people to upgrade.
What people want and what they'll end up getting might not be the same. While it's likely that the iPad will have a faster processor, it's unlikely that it will have a significantly better battery life unless Apple scales up the iPad in some way, similar to what it has done with the iPhone 6 Plus.
The new iPad is also likely to feature the Touch ID fingerprint reader, a feature that first debuted on the iPhone 5s. The new iPad is also likely to be thinner, feature an improved display, a revamped storage lineup, and yes, a gold finish.
When questioned as to whether they are planning to upgrade, 58 percent of existing tablet owners said they will not upgrade because their current tablet fits their needs, while only 19 percent cited the high cost of tablets as justification for not purchasing another.
The survey also gives us an insight into what happens to old tablets. 60 percent give their old device to a friend or family member, while 27 percent sell it for cash. The remaining 13 percent recycle the device.
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