Microsoft has taken the top spot in a recent J.D. Power tablet satisfaction survey, in what is perhaps another sign that Microsoft has found a groove with its Surface lineup. Rated on a 1,000 point scale, Microsoft (855) just managed to edge out Apple (849) and Samsung (847), who came in second and third, respectively.
In speaking on the findings of the study, J.D. Power Vp Jeff Conklin states that the versatility of Microsoft's Surface tablets are the drivers behind much of their success, calling them "just as capable as many laptops" while also functioning as tablets. In terms of features, Microsoft scored the highest across 3 specific areas:
In features, Microsoft is the highest performer in three areas: variety of pre-loaded applications; internet connectivity; and availability of manufacturer-supported accessories. Microsoft Surface users have the highest incidences of accessory use, which underscores the device's versatility. These accessories include a stylus (48% vs. 27% industry average); physical keyboard (51% vs. 14%); and mouse (27% vs. 6%), all of which have higher satisfaction. Microsoft also achieves the highest ratings in these features attributes: variety of input/output connectivity and amount of internal storage available.
J.D. Power's findings include other interesting tidbits, including that Microsoft tablet owners are more likely to be early adopters. The study's findings also point to a younger audience for Microsoft's tablets when compared to its competitors. Microsoft tablet owners are also more likely to place importance on productivity features, the study finds.
The study was based on responses from 2,238 tablet owners and was completed between the months of October and December 2016.
Given the perception of Apple's backslide in the tablet space in recent years, combined with growing interest in the Surface lineup, it's perhaps not surprising to see Microsoft take the top spot in this study. It's worth noting, however, that the margin was still very close between the top 3 spots. Other manufacturers involved in the study, like LG, Acer and ASUS, pulled in scores ranging from 812-836 by comparison.
