Worldwide tablet shipments saw a slight year-on-year growth of 0.5 percent to 30.8 million units, according to IDC. This positive turn comes on the back of more than two years of decline, with the last recorded growth occurring in Q2 of 2021.
While macroeconomic challenges persist, the shift towards premium tablets is encouraging as consumers seek productivity-oriented devices.
“The real gains will come from the next refresh cycle, followed by growth within commercial segments as more tablets are used in the education sector and the gig economy,” said Anuroopa Nataraj, Senior Research Analyst of IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
“However, these factors won’t suffice as the attrition driven by competition from PCs and smartphones will contribute to a lackluster outlook for the tablet market. That said, there is potential upside driven by AI capabilities similar to what’s expected in other device types,” she added.
Apple continued to lead the market with 9.9 million units shipped in Q1. The company is expected to launch new models in Q2.
Samsung came in second with shipments of 6.7 million units on the back of a 5.8 percent year-on-year decline. Promotions from competing brands and the absence of new products impacted Samsung’s growth. However, the company aims to improve user experience by incorporating AI capabilities in its latest offerings.
Huawei retained the third position with impressive year-on-year growth of 43.6 percent and shipments of 2.9 million units. The resurgence of its smartphone business likely contributed to this growth.
Lenovo ranked fourth with year-on-year growth of 13.2 percent. The Tab P series models drove shipments, although slate tablets still represent a significant portion of Lenovo’s sales.
Completing the Top 5 was Xiaomi with remarkable growth of 92.6 percent year on year, shipping 1.8 million units. Outside of China, Xiaomi experienced triple-digit growth across various regions.
Photo: Julia M Cameron
Entelechy Asia 