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iPad Recorded Highest Market Share in First Quarter Since 2014 According to IDC
Apple on Tuesday reported that it sold 9.1 million iPads during the first quarter of 2018, giving the company its highest share of the worldwide tablet market during that quarter in four years, according to IDC.
The research firm estimates that iPads accounted for 28.8 percent of tablet shipments over the three-month period, compared to 24.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. The modest growth resulted in the iPad's highest first quarter market share since 2014, when it captured a 32.7 percent stake.
iPad's first quarter market share per IDC:
iPad remains the world's most popular tablet, as it has been since shortly after it launched in 2010. Samsung finished runner-up in the first quarter with an estimated 5.3 million tablet shipments, down from six million in the year-ago quarter, although its market share stayed put at 16.7 percent.
Top Five Tablet Vendors, Detachable + Slate, Worldwide Shipments in Millions, via IDC
Samsung managed flat growth due to significantly lower shipments from other tablet vendors in the first quarter, according to IDC. Amazon, for instance, is estimated to have shipped just 1.1 million tablets from January through March, a 49.5 percent decline from the year-ago quarter.
However, research firm Strategy Analytics estimates Amazon shipped 2.8 million shipments in the first quarter, and it's unclear why there is such a large discrepancy between the numbers. IDC said Amazon's quarterly downturn "does not come as a surprise" given that its tablet sales are highly seasonal.
Looking ahead, the new sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad should have more of an impact in the second quarter of 2018, as the tablet launched with only four days remaining in the first quarter, amid education buying season.
In terms of what's next for the iPad, Apple is rumored to launch at least one new Pro model with slimmer bezels, no home button, and Face ID later this year. The fate of the iPad mini is less certain, but it could eventually receive a routine speed bump should it remain part of Apple's tablet lineup.
The research firm estimates that iPads accounted for 28.8 percent of tablet shipments over the three-month period, compared to 24.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. The modest growth resulted in the iPad's highest first quarter market share since 2014, when it captured a 32.7 percent stake.
iPad's first quarter market share per IDC:
- 2013: 40.2%
- 2014: 32.7%
- 2015: 26.8%
- 2016: 25.9%
- 2017: 24.9%
- 2018: 28.8%
iPad remains the world's most popular tablet, as it has been since shortly after it launched in 2010. Samsung finished runner-up in the first quarter with an estimated 5.3 million tablet shipments, down from six million in the year-ago quarter, although its market share stayed put at 16.7 percent.
Samsung managed flat growth due to significantly lower shipments from other tablet vendors in the first quarter, according to IDC. Amazon, for instance, is estimated to have shipped just 1.1 million tablets from January through March, a 49.5 percent decline from the year-ago quarter.
However, research firm Strategy Analytics estimates Amazon shipped 2.8 million shipments in the first quarter, and it's unclear why there is such a large discrepancy between the numbers. IDC said Amazon's quarterly downturn "does not come as a surprise" given that its tablet sales are highly seasonal.
Looking ahead, the new sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad should have more of an impact in the second quarter of 2018, as the tablet launched with only four days remaining in the first quarter, amid education buying season.
In terms of what's next for the iPad, Apple is rumored to launch at least one new Pro model with slimmer bezels, no home button, and Face ID later this year. The fate of the iPad mini is less certain, but it could eventually receive a routine speed bump should it remain part of Apple's tablet lineup.
Tags: IDC, Strategy Analytics
[ 53 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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20 weeks ago
Apple's numbers will continue to climb in the tablet space. The others have basically given up, and the new iPad price doesn't hurt either.
20 weeks ago
Apple's numbers will continue to climb in the tablet space. The others have basically given up, and the new iPad price doesn't hurt either.
IDK the surface is still the better all around tablet
20 weeks ago
This market share is based on units; on revenue I expect it would be a lot higher.
20 weeks ago
Now if only Apple gave a damn about iOS on the iPad, still a huge pain to do anything remotely resembling multi tasking
You need 4 hands to use the iPad comfortably for complex commands
You need 4 hands to use the iPad comfortably for complex commands
20 weeks ago
There's really no competition in the pure tablet space anymore. Android and Windows tablets are long gone. Windows in particular has taken pretty much the entire market for 2 in 1s and convertibles.
However, despite owning the "market" the tablet market appears to be shrinking (due to 2 in 1s). Apple's sales are great in this sector but even those are decreasing over time historically.
the new iPad and price point is good to help keep it going for a bit, but there's still the notion that a pure tablet in this day of age just isn't the most desired device anymore
However, despite owning the "market" the tablet market appears to be shrinking (due to 2 in 1s). Apple's sales are great in this sector but even those are decreasing over time historically.
the new iPad and price point is good to help keep it going for a bit, but there's still the notion that a pure tablet in this day of age just isn't the most desired device anymore
20 weeks ago
A lot don’t want to be using a Computer browsing on the sofa after a long day at work
Apps
Browsing like posting here
Watching sport
TV shows
It’s why I need to have an iPad and laptop.
And being able to answer calls, iMessage as well as SMS from the iPad means I don’t have to even use my phone at home.
20 weeks ago
What are people actually using these for? I’ve owned a bunch of iPads before and never actually found much use for them besides games and media consumption, which I can do on a big screen phone just as well. My kid likes his since he’s too young to have a phone, but other than that I can’t really see any use case for it that wouldn’t be better served by a real computer.
A lot don’t want to be using a Computer browsing on the sofa after a long day at workApps
Browsing like posting here
Watching sport
TV shows
It’s why I need to have an iPad and laptop.
20 weeks ago
IDK the surface is still the better all around tablet
Windows though – in 2018? :(
20 weeks ago
That’s because tablets, as a market, are failing to get the attention of consumers. People are using their large screen smart phones for consumption purposes and their laptops for everything else. That “middle ground” Steve Jobs talked about is disappearing. And I’m saying this as somebody who used an iPad as their only “computer”.
Its not that they are failing to get attention. Its that everyone that wants one already has one. There is no compelling reason to buy a new one at a cycle of phones. My wife has an iPad Air and uses it daily, but unless it physically stops working then she has no need to buy a new one. Phones die from wear and tear. Feature wise though, phones are now getting to the same place of tablets where there isn't much different from model to model so I see that slowing down too.
Personally, I don't see a need for an iPad. I have a Note 8 and Surface Pro, and the iPad would not change my situation enough to warrant having another device to haul around.
In my wife, my wife has an iPad and my granddaughter has an Amazon Fire for Kids. I don't see that changing in years.
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