---
title: "Device Ownership"
description: "Over the last year, tablet ownership has steadily increased from 11% of U.S. adults in July of 2011 to 18% in January of 2012, according to PEJ data. Currently, 22% own a tablet and another 3% regularly use a tablet owned by someone else in the home. This number is very close to new data, […]"
date: "2012-10-01"
authors:
  - name: "Benjamin Wormald"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2012/10/01/device-ownership/"
---

# Device Ownership

Over the last year, tablet ownership has steadily increased from 11% of U.S. adults in July of 2011 to 18% in January of 2012, according to PEJ data. Currently, 22% own a tablet and another 3% regularly use a tablet owned by someone else in the home. This number is very close to new data, released here for the first time, conducted in a separate survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on July 16 through August 7 2012 that found 25% of all U.S. adults have a tablet computer.

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/legacy/u29/PJ_12_09_17_tabletNews-report_02.png)

The growth in tablet adoption is likely related to the advent of the lower-priced tablets in late 2011. Overall, about two-thirds of tablet-owning adults, 68%, got their tablet in the last year, including 32% in 2012 alone.

[1]

This survey was also conducted before the introduction of Google's Nexus 7 or Amazon's Kindle Fire HD.

Even before these, the influx of Android-based devices has changed the tablet market, much as it did for smartphones over the past several years. Of the 44% of adults who have a smartphone, 46% have an Android phone, 38% have an iPhone and 10% have a Blackberry.

Among those who have both a tablet and smartphone, there is some operating system loyalty. A majority of iPad owners who also have smartphones have an iPhone (57%); just 32% have an Android phone. Similarly, 66% of those who have an Android tablet have an Android phone; 29% have an iPhone.

---

**Footnote:**

[1]

---

**Next:** [Mobile Activity: News Ranks High](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2012/10/01/mobile-activity-news-ranks-high.md)