A third of iPad apps are games

Thu Apr 8 2010, 16:56 PM

More than a third of apps that are exclusive to the iPad are games, according to Distimo's analysis of the Apple App Store on April 6. The report found that 35% of the 2,385 apps exclusive to the iPad are games. Entertainment and education are the next two most popular app categories, boasting 260 and 205 titles respectively. 

Games and entertainment apps are more popular on the iPhone than the iPad. Seven out of 10 apps on the iPhone are in one of these categories, compared with 40% of apps compatible with the iPad.  

Users are more likely to be charged for iPad apps and have to pay higher prices for them. Some 83% of iPad apps are paid, while 73% of iPhone apps are paid. The average price of apps exclusively available on the iPad is USD3.61, which is slightly more than the USD3.55 charged for iPhone-compatible apps.  

The iPad is hoping to capitalise on its potential as an e-reader by charging less for books. Books are more than USD2 cheaper on average when bought on the iPad rather than the iPhone. The lower costs are thought to be possible because of the iBookstore availability on the iPad. In contrast, the iPad is significantly costlier when buying education, healthcare and fitness, music and sports applications.