Apple Shipped More Tablets Than Samsung and Amazon Did Combined Last Quarter

Friday July 30, 2021 9:55 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

While the iPad has long been the world's most popular tablet, newly published market research helps put Apple's lead into perspective.

According to estimates shared by research firm IDC, Apple shipped 12.9 million iPads in the second quarter of 2021. By comparison, IDC estimated that Samsung and Amazon shipped a combined 12.3 million tablets in the quarter, suggesting that Apple shipped more tablets than Samsung and Amazon did combined in the quarter.

iPadOS Widgets
A big caveat is that Apple no longer reports iPad unit sales in its earnings results, forcing IDC to estimate shipments based off the iPad quarterly revenue number that Apple does share. As a result, other research firms like Strategy Analytics and Canalys have different iPad shipment numbers for the second quarter, but it doesn't change the narrative, as both have Apple with a significant lead over Samsung and Amazon.

iPad sales continued to surge last quarter as many people continue to work, learn, and communicate with others remotely. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the ‌iPad‌ had its best June quarter in nearly a decade, with the company reporting iPad revenue of $7.4 billion in the quarter, a significant increase over $6.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The launch of a new iPad Pro with an M1 chip and a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model likely also bolstered sales during the quarter.

Tag: IDC

Top Rated Comments

swester

28 months ago

That's funny, I didn't know Samsung shipped iPads!

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

fwmireault

You bet, tablets is a market where Apple delivers a way better overall experience than competitors

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

dantracht

That's because they're better. I had a Samsung AT & T gave me for free years ago, and it was awful, and supported by the latest OS for less than a year. I have a 2017 model Fire HD 10, and it's is also AWFUL, and also, within 2 years, you can't get the latest OS on it.

Both were slow, frustrating disasters. The Fire tablet sits on a shelf and every few months I turn it on and get annoyed with it and turn it right off.

My GF has an iPad Air 2 that will get iPadOS 15.

Is an iPad a computer? Not in my opinion.

Is an iPad the best tablet by a mile? Absolutely.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

WildCowboy

We fixed the title. :)

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

I7guy

Tablets are very 2013, still can’t find a use for an iPad, not even watching youtube.

You’re seemingly using it wrong.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

SFjohn

I use my iPad for almost everything, more time spent on it than any other Apple devices. Love it really. Just updated to the latest iPad Air maxed out. Will continue to use this until Apple releases an OLED version.

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