When it comes to devices, kids’ holiday wish lists are simple this year. The most-wanted gifts are predominantly from one company -- Apple. According to a recent Nielsen study (www.nielsen.com), Apple’s popularity leading up to the holiday season continues a trend seen over the last couple of years, with American kids aged 6-12 generally more interested in the latest iOS offerings than other consumer electronics and gaming devices.

Approximately half the children surveyed expressed interest in the full-sized iPad (up from 44% last year), and 36% in the new iPad mini. The iPod touch and iPhone are also coveted devices among these young consumers (36% and 33%, respectively). 

Kids are also likely to ask for dedicated gaming hardware this holiday, with 39% excited to own Nintendo’s just-released console offering, Wii U, and 29% indicating they want a device from that company’s portable DS family.  Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 also proved appealing, with approximately one-quarter of kids 6-12 saying they want these high definition consoles.

Among consumers aged 13 and older, tablets and full-sized computers were the top electronics choices, with roughly one in five indicating they want to acquire the iPad (vs. 24% last year), any other tablet, or a computer.  Reinforcing the notion that the tablet market is one to watch, non-Apple devices -- lead by Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy offerings -- proved nearly as desirable as the iPad among teens and adults, while e-readers showed a slight decline in interest from 2011.  Consumers 13 years and older were also interested in purchasing the Wii U, the iPhone and Internet-enabled TVs.