Between mid-December and early January, the number of U.S. adult owners of both e-readers and tablet computers each rose from 10% to 19%. Overall, 29% of adults own at least one of them.
From mid-2011 into the autumn there was not much change in the ownership of tablets and e-book readers. However, as the holiday gift-giving season approached, the marketplace for both devices dramatically shifted.
Read our new report for more stats on digital reading device ownership here.
![Further Reading
Report: E-reader ownership doubles in six months (2011)
[Update] Trend charts: Gadget ownership (adults)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnve70YOm61qifeb3o1_r2_500.jpg)
New report: E-reader ownership doubles in six months, while tablet ownership grows more slowly
Twelve percent of U.S. adults own an e-book reader as of May 2011, according to our latest report, up from 6% in November 2010. Hispanic adults, adults younger than age 65, college graduates and those living in households with incomes of at least $75,000 are most likely to own e-book readers. Parents are also more likely than non-parents to own these devices.
Meanwhile, tablet computers have not seen the same level of growth among U.S. adults in recent months. As of May 2011, 8% of adults report owning a tablet computer such as an iPad, Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Xoom. This represents just a 3 percentage-point increase in ownership since November 2010. Overall, the highest rates of tablet ownership are among Hispanic adults and those with household incomes of at least $75,000 annually. Read more…
![Further Reading
Report: Americans and their gadgets (2010)
Report: Generations and their gadgets (2011)
[Update] Trend charts: Gadget ownership (adults)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljai57UjWS1qifeb3o1_500.jpg)
Many devices have become popular across generations, with a majority now owning cell phones, laptops and desktop computers. Younger adults are leading the way in increased mobility, preferring laptops to desktops and using their cell phones for a variety of functions, including internet, email, music, games, and video. This infographic shows the percentage of adults in each generation who own each of the gadgets we asked about in our September 2010 survey.
These findings are based on a survey of 3,001 American adults (ages 18 and older) conducted between August 9 and September 13, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, and the survey included 1,000 cell phone interviews.
For more information, including gadget ownership trends over time, please see the main report, “Generations and their gadgets.”
These are the tumblings of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project (Pew Internet for short). We study how Americans use the internet and technology in their daily lives. You can browse our (free!) reports—and steal our data—at pewinternet.org.
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