It looks like the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the gravity of Apple iPad App downloads. The statistics for the first quarter of 2020 indicates a massive surge in first-time downloads of iPad apps.
A Leap in App Installs
Data compiled by Sensor Tower show that iPad apps registered a whopping 1.1 billion downloads for the first three months of 2020. The lock-down-induced download frenzy shattered many records.
The stats recorded a massive 40% increase in first-time downloads when compared with that of Q1 2019. More importantly, this marks a 52% surge from the figure in the just preceding quarter.
This is also the steepest hike since the third quarter of 2016, when the overall app downloads touched 1.16 billion. China – curiously the epicentre of the corona outbreak – leads from the front, registering 151 million app installs. The USA contributed 100 million downloads.
Apps in the categories of gaming, entertainment and education have been the most sought after. Games accounted for more than half of the app installs, with 603 million new downloads, which corresponds to a leap of 52% from the corresponding figures in the previous quarter. Entertainment also witnessed a 33% jump from Q4 2019, with 88 million downloads.
Rise in Revenue
The renewed vigor in the customer activity reflects on the financial front too. The customer spending on iPad apps in Q1 2020 is estimated to be USD 2.1 billion. This is the first time ever the figure crosses the two-billion mark.
More than 75% of the amount came through games. Interestingly, US customers contributed significantly more revenue than the Chinese customers, despite being second in the number of app installs. US customers spent USD 893 million, while their Chinese counterparts contributed USD 335 million.
The stats also reveal another interesting trend: iPad app installs registered a 24% faster growth than iPhone apps during the first quarter.
An All-time Perspective
While the figures sound rosy for Apple amidst the global lockdown blues, these are still lagging way behind the all-time high figures recorded in 2013-2014.
The global iPad installs consistently touched the 1.5 million mark in 2013-2014. From January 2013 to September 2014, all the quarters except Q2 2014 had witnessed 1.5 million downloads or more.
Still, the company will happily take this. Q1 2020 is the first time iPad app installs crossed the one-billion mark after the second quarter of 2017. Apple will definitely hope for further increase in the download gravity.
It looks like it’s time to dust off the old iPad adaptations blueprints. The statistics show that this format cannot be neglected. Can your business benefit from an iPad-friendly app?
