Nielsen: iOS devices more desired by kids than consoles

US children seem more interested in owning an iPod Touch or iPad than a dedicated home or handheld game console, according to findings by Nielsen.

29 per cent of the six to twelve year-olds surveyed expressed a desire to own a Touch within the next six months, with 31 per cent saying the same of an iPad.

By contrast, just 12 per cent talked of acquiring an Xbox 360, with the PSP, Wii, PS3 and DS coming in at 14, 18, 21 and 25 per cent respectively.

Computers were high up the list at 29 per cent, reflecting the interest in social networking and games. Kinect and Move, meanwhile attracted 14 and 17 per cent of interest amongst six to twelve year-olds.

However, Nielsen admitted that the October survey was conducted prior to Microsoft's Kinect marketing blitz.

Children aged 13 and above were more interested in other consumer electronics such as TVs and smartphones, with the most-desired dedicated gaming device being the Wii, at 15 per cent.

"Given the continued pressure on consumer spending," claimed Nielsen, "it is difficult to know how robust a holiday season this will be for tech devices, but this survey suggests the electronics aisle will be heavily traveled this season."

Survey sample size and methodology was unrevealed, outside of constituting a "general population sample."