Mikey Campbell
Apple held on as the world's largest tablet vendor during the first calendar quarter of 2017, though 13 straight quarters of decline are starting to take their toll on iPad's marketshare lead.
According to fresh statistics from market analyst IDC, Apple's share of the worldwide tablet market sits at 24.6 percent, down from 25.9 percent in the first quarter of 2016. As noted by Apple on Tuesday, iPad sales hit 8.9 million units for the three-month period ending in March, a figure down 13 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Samsung also felt the pinch of contracting tablet demand with a negative 1.1 percent growth rate on the year. The Korean tech giant shipped 6 million units to take a 16.5 percent share of the market during the first quarter, up from 15.2 percent in 2016.
Chinese upstart Huawei was the only top-five vendor to show growth in the March quarter with shipments of 2.7 million units, good enough for a 7.4 percent stake of the overall market. The finish, driven by the firm's decision to sell both Android and Windows devices, was up 31.7 percent compared to last year.
Amazon and Lenovo round out the list in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Amazon shipped 2.2 million Fire tablets to capture a 6 percent marketshare, while Lenovo managed 2.1 million units for a 5.7 percent share of the market.
Overall tablet shipments declined 8.5 percent to 36.2 million units over quarter one, the tenth straight quarter of declines for the ailing segment.
With iPad down in March, Apple has suffered 13 consecutive quarters of year-over-year sales declines. During the company's earnings conference call this week, CEO Tim Cook said sell-through was ahead of internal expectations, noting U.S. sales were up year-over-year.
Apple is looking for ways to drive iPad upgrades, traditionally a difficult proposition, while at the same time enticing new buyers.
Last March, the company launched a 9.7-inch iPad Pro with Apple Pencil support, which joined the 12.9-inch iPad Pro debuted in September 2015. Successor models are rumored for release in the near future.
Addressing the entry-level market, Apple launched a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad in March to replace the outgoing iPad Air 2. Cook said customer response to the $329 tablet has been "excellent," but failed to break out detailed numbers.
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51 Comments
I'm sure it will look to the pundits as though the sky is falling even though in reality it's basically the only time ever Apple has had a majority market share on anything. Unless you count Apple Watch I guess.
The damn things just last too long. I'm on only my second iPad, the first being the iPad 3rd gen (I'd waited for the Retina display). That was April 2012. I replaced it with the Air 2 in early 2015. I use my i.pad, with the Numbers spreadsheet, to manage my seven-figure investment portfolio, track my budget, workouts, etc. it's been my main [large] screen since I got it; the MacBook Air has spent 95% of its life since unplugged and in the closet, used only to do my taxes each year.
I did buy an iPad 2 for a girlfriend, and an iPad mini for another. So there's that. But I've had three I.phones in the same number of years, and feel I'm far behind in updating my current model (iPhone 6). Apple needs to find a way to compel iPad upgrades. Or juice the enterprise market to acquire new customers. I've a feeling AR might be one dimension of the solution to the iPad problem.
It helps Android numbers with carriers giving away free Android junk tablets with the addition of a line of service. Or that most of the sales of Android tablets are ultra low budget junk. it makes Android numbers artificially high.
If and when they come out with a new updated iPad Pro 12.9, I'll be more than happy to buy a fully loaded iPad. Still waiting around for that day tho. Maybe one day soon and not another year of waiting.