Based on the latest data made available through the IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, a total of 598,375 tablets were shipped to the Philippines in Q1 2014.
Why this is significant? It makes the Philippines a major player among emerging markets for tablets.
All told, this spike in shipments translates to a year-on-year growth of 110%–the highest year-on-year growth among countries in Southeast Asia.
Samsung and Apple continue to lead the tablet race in the Philippines, garnering the first and second place, respectively. However, these international players are increasingly facing tough competition from local vendors. Homegrown vendors are steadily gaining ground in the Philippines, with Cherry Mobile and Starmobile being two of the strongest.
“Backed by cash-rich marketing and A-list celebrity endorsements, Cherry Mobile and Starmobile continue to feed the appetite of Filipino consumers for budget-friendly tablets. The rising demand for tablets from these homegrown players will keep the Philippines tablet market on a growth trajectory in 2014,” explains Jerome Dominguez, Associate Market Analyst at IDC Philippines.
