11 Jul 2012
Apple, Kindle and Google fight it out to be Christmas bestseller
- Currys and PC World unveil their Top 10 predictions for this year's best-selling gifts
- Tablet category shifting three times as many devices as last year with iPad, Kindle and Google Nexus hogging the top spots
- Domestic appliances resurge as the 'perfect gift' as a vacuum cleaner appears in the Top 10 for the first time
Currys and PC World, the UK's largest electrical retailers, have today published their predicted Top 10 best-selling Christmas tech gifts for 2012, with tech giants Apple, Kindle and Google battling it out for the number one spot.
Battle of the tech Goliaths
This is the third year running that the Apple iPad has been top of the Christmas bestseller list at Currys and PC World. In fact, such is Apple's popularity that Currys and PC World are predicting that the only product likely to knock the iPad off the number 1 spot is Apple's latest launch, a product still to be revealed, but that the tech buyers are predicting will go straight to the top of customers' wish lists.
The Kindle e-reader is holding strong at number 2 for the second consecutive year, this time with its Touch device. Last year Currys and PC World saw a 700% increase in sales of Kindles during the Christmas shopping period, with a device being sold every three seconds in the week before Christmas.
The iPad isn't the only tablet to feature in the top ten, however. Currys & PC World predict that the Kindle Fire tablet, due to launch late autumn, will become a Top bestseller by Christmas. Meanwhile, Google is expected to set the tablet market alight with its Nexus 7, coming in at number 3 and set to be one of the hottest gifts this Christmas.
Mark Hosgood, Category Manager for e-readers and tablets, comments: "While it's no surprise that the likes of the iPad and Kindle are going to be on everyone's gift lists this year, we also think the tablet market as a whole could be a big winner. We are already selling three times as many tablet devices as we were this time last year, and I expect this number will continue to rise as we get closer to Christmas.
"Tablets have simply become one of the most popular gift options for customers. There's much more of a variety on the market, the technology is miles more advanced, and the prices are coming down significantly so you're always likely to find something suited to your budget. For example, you can pick up a decent tablet for as little as £79. The Google Nexus has already exceeded pre-order expectations in three days, and it's clear that becoming a tablet owner is top of everyone's Christmas wish list this year."
Back to mine
Currys and PC World are also continuing to see strong growth in domestic gadgetry, and are predicting that coffee machines will remain a popular gift this Christmas. Sales have grown 30% year-on-year as the UK embraces 'proper' coffee at home. Krups' dinky Dolce Gusto pod coffee machine is set to be huge this Christmas, clocking in at number 5, while Tefal's Actifry, a 'health fryer' that cooks the perfect chip using just 3% fat, hits in at number 9, with people looking to start their January health-kicks the minute Christmas is over.
The most surprising entry to this year's Top 10 however is the Dyson DC44 bagless vacuum cleaner, coming in at number 8. Packing in style, colour, design and innovation, it signals the first time a household electrical cleaning product has been considered an ideal gift. With an optimum suction efficiency powered by electric motors that spin five times faster than a racing car engine, the Dyson is anticipated to be one of this season's most coveted gadgets for the house-proud.
Get your hands on some cracking cans
Bumping off Dr Dre's hugely popular Beats headphones from the Top 10 this year is UK rap artist, Tinchy Stryder, hitting in at number 7 with his first foray into audio products. His design-led range of Goji Tinchy Stryder: On Cloud 9 headphones, which launch in stores later this month, and are available exclusively at Currys and PC World, provide unbelievable depth and richness of sound at a price that all music lovers and fans can afford.
Colour cameras
In at number 10 is the Nikon S13200 – an upgrade from last year's best selling model, the S13100, set to sell in the most popular festive colour, red. "Other than function and design, colour is a core consideration when purchasing a compact digital camera," comments Mark Parrott, Category Manager for imaging. "Red is, by far, our biggest seller particularly over Christmas. People want something outside of the standard-issue grey, black and silver models; they want basic devices which make a visual statement."
TVs for all
While they don't feature in many people's gift lists (possibly due to the difficulty of fitting one in a stocking!), Currys and PC World are predicting that TV's will continue to be a top seller in the run up to Christmas as people upgrade to 3D and Smart TVs for premium family festive viewing. Tech buyers are predicting a record 75% spend on Smart TVs and 60% on 3D TVs during the peak period, with customers opting for the larger screen sizes to get the most from their TV viewing – sales of 55" plus screens have increased 500% since last year.
Currys and PC World's Christmas 2012 Top Ten Tech Gifts
- Apple New iPad (3rd generation), from £399.99
- Kindle e-reader, from £89
- Google Nexus 7 tablet, £199.99
- Apple mystery product, £TBC
- Krups, Dolce Gusto, from £89
- Kindle Fire, £TBC
- Goji Tinchy Stryder: On Cloud 9 Headphones, from £19.99
- Dyson DC44 vacuum cleaner, price £TBC
- Tefal Actifry, from £179
- Nikon S13200 compact digital camera, £TBC
All the above mentioned products are available to buy nationwide at Currys and PC World megastores, as well as online at www.currys.co.uk or www.pcworld.co.uk.
For more information or for interviews with Dixons Retail category managers, contact the Dixons Retail Press Office at M&C Saatchi PR:
Email: dixonsretail@mcsaatchi.com
Tel: 020 7544 6000
About Currys and PC World:
Currys and PC World are part of Dixons Retail plc. With over 1,200 stores and online services spanning 28 countries, Dixons is widely acknowledged as one of Europe's leading specialist electrical retailing groups. Dixons employs over 38,000 people and provides top quality training to ensure their personnel can provide amazing customer service on products ranging from televisions to ovens, and computers to washing machines.
11 Jul 2012 Apple, Kindle and Google fight it out to be Christmas bestseller (323KB PDF)