Skip to main content

iPhone 6 denting iPad usage, data shows

iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Mini
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It seems like owners of Apple’s recently launched iPhone 6 are happily ignoring their iPad in favor of their large-screen handset, a factor that suggests a marked fall in iPad sales could be on the way as consumers opt for a single device instead of both a handset and a tablet.

Popular read-it-later app Pocket sifted through data linked to two million article and video opens to see how device usage changed when users who also own an iPad upgraded from a 4-inch iPhone 5/5S to a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 or 5.3-inch iPhone 6 Plus.

Its research showed that when someone had both an iPhone 5/5S and an iPad, 55 percent of their saved articles and videos would be consumed via their smartphone, while 45 percent would be viewed on the tablet.

However, after switching to an iPhone 6, users have started viewing an increasing amount of their content on their handset – 72 percent compared to 28 percent via the iPad – apparently demonstrating users’ contentedness with the phone’s larger display.

The shift is even more dramatic for users of the Cupertino company’s largest phone, the iPhone 6 Plus. According to the data, 80 percent of Pocket-saved content was consumed via the iOS phablet, with only 20 percent viewed using Apple’s tablet.

pocket iphone ipad data
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“The bigger your phone is, the less you’re going to use your iPad,” Pocket concluded. “Users with an iPhone 6 now read on their tablets 19 percent less during the week and 27 percent less over the weekend. Those with a 6 Plus are on their tablets 31 percent less during the week and 36 percent less over the weekend.”

While the data concerns just one app, it’s easy to imagine that those with the 6 and 6 Plus are now less likely to put down their phone and reach for their iPad. Such a development indicates that Apple’s tablet sales could take a hit as customers buying an iPhone 6 feel that an iPad offers little extra in the way of user experience.

Indeed, earlier this month reports suggested Apple might even stop updating its smallest iPad, recognizing that iPad owners are likely to spend more time with their handsets. It’s thought that resources may have been shifted from the Mini to the so-called iPad Pro, a rumored 12.2-inch tablet that could land some time next year.

If you’ve ditched your old iPhone for one of its latest large-screen handsets, and also own an iPad, have you found yourself spending less time with the tablet? Let us know in the comments below.

[Source: Pocket]

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15
A green iPhone 15 on a green bench.

Apple’s iPhone lineup continues to be among its bestselling products. In 2023, we got the iPhone 15, which packs some of Apple’s latest and greatest tech and starts at $800.

The iPhone 15 is one of the easiest iPhone recommendations in 2024. But if you're open to a few other suggestions, there are some great alternatives to consider — including cheaper iPhone options and some really compelling Android phones. Here are five other phones you should consider buying instead of the iPhone 15.
iPhone 14

Read more
The most common iPad problems and how to fix them
Several iPads on a table together.

Apple's iPad has consistently marked among the best tablets, and is considered to be a sort of trailblazer in the field in its own right. As a logical result, your first encounters with common tablet glitches are likely to be iPad glitches. If you're not sure what to do to fix your device, that's okay, as you have to start somewhere. Here are some somewhat common problems that we've found plague iPads again and again, as well as some related iPad troubleshooting advice. Take care and read through the issues related to your problem to get started troubleshooting your iPad.

Read more
How to find your lost phone (tips for iPhone and Android)
The Motorola Edge Plus 2023 lying next to the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro.

Not knowing how to find your smartphone can cause a real panic when the need arises. It likely has way too much information about you, has access to your bank details and stock portfolio, and can grant access into pretty much any personal sphere of your life. Plus, you're likely addicted to your smartphone in ways that no device has ever addicted humankind before. In short, if you've lost your phone, you may start to panic.

Read more