The iPad is top of the pops when it comes to desirability as a kids' holiday present, and the Nintendo Wii U isn't doing too badly either, according to an extract from Nielsen's 360° Gaming Report for 2013.

There's a good chance an Apple device is on the wishlist of US children aged 6-12. ©Apple

Among US children aged 6-12, 48 percent said they were interested in obtaining an iPad over the next six-month period, 39 percent wanted to make room for a Nintendo Wii U, and 36 percent were eyeing up the iPod Touch and iPad Mini.

That makes the Wii U the most-wanted dedicated gaming device, significantly ahead of the Xbox 360's Kinect sensor (31%) and Nintendo's handheld 3DS and DS lines (29% and 28% respectively).

But though the iPad was still the leading device among those over 12, it was less than half as likely to make a wishlist, with 21 percent interested in making it their own.

A new computer was deemed second most desirable to those 13 and up (19 percent) -- compared with sixth most wanted to younger children, a non-Apple tablet third (18%), and the Nintendo Wii U fourth (17%).

Apple's competitors had greater traction with an older crowd, where the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy tablets were potential purchases for 9 percent and 8 percent respectively, compared to the iPad mini's 11 percent.

Meanwhile the good old iPhone made the wishlist of 14 percent of the over-12 group compared to 12 percent for non-iPhone smartphones and 11 percent for Android smartphones.