According to International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipment of tablets, including slates and detachables, continues to decline.
IDC’s report indicates the market has retrenched 12.3 percent year over year “as vendors begin to refocus their product lines and consumers hold off on purchases.”
“An overwhelming majority of tablets shipped this past quarter were Android-based systems (65 percent) followed by iOS, which captured 26 percent, and Windows for the remaining share,” according to the data. “Though this trend has been constant for years there are early signs of change as the Android vendor list has contracted and champions of the OS have begun to offer Windows-based products, hedging against the decline of Android slates.”
“The market has spoken as consumers and enterprises seek more productive form factors and operating systems – it’s the reason we’re seeing continued growth in detachables,” said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers. “At present, it’s difficult for Android to compete with iOS or Windows detachable products. However, the next 12 to 18 months will be very interesting as Google launches the next version of Android with better multi-tasking support and as they begin to bring together their two operating systems.”
Despite the continued decline in slates, the form factor still accounts for over three-quarters of the market.
“While growth in the detachable category is undeniable, slates continue to represent the vast majority of the segment. Vendors like Amazon, with a very focused approach to positioning, price, and purpose, managed to capture a considerable share of the market. Slate sales are declining but they still serve a purpose and will do so for a long time to come,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research director, Tablets at IDC.
IDC offers a roundup on the activities and results of various tablet vendors — including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, and Amazon here.
