Apple’s iPad continues to lead the tablet market, according to new data from IDC, but its marketshare has dropped a few points year-over-year, and the overall market for tablets saw negative growth, based on units shipped globally. That’s according to second quarter 2015 unit shipments and marketshare over the same quarter a year ago, as Apple shipped 10.9 million units versus 13.3 million units during the second quarter of 2014. While the iPad continues to lead in the tablet space, IDC’s data shows Apple’s market share dropping nearly 3 points from 27.7% to 24.5% …Samsung, the number two player in the tablet space, similarly saw declines in both units shipped and market share from Q2 2014 to Q2 2015. The Korean company slipped by a million tablets during the quarter year-over-year, falling from 8.6 million units to 7.6 million units, while its market share dropped a point from 18% to 17%.
As IDC includes both “slate tablets plus 2-in-1 tablets” in its data, the report shows Lenovo, Huawei, and LG as seeing measurable gains in both units shipped and market share. For Lenovo, the growth is slim year-over-year despite the overall market shrinking, as it shipped 2.5 million units in the quarter versus 2.4 million units during the same quarter a year ago. Lenovo’s market share climbed from 4.9% to 5.7%.
Huawei and LG both tied for fourth place, each shipping 1.6 million units with 3.7% and 3.6% market share, respectively. For Huawei, that’s up from 0.8 million units shipped a year ago and 1.7% market share leading to 103.6% growth in a market that’s down 7%. Similarly, LG increased its unit shipments from half a million to 1.1 million more year-over-year, with market share growing from just 1% to 3.6% causing 246.4% growth.
Aside from Apple’s and Samsung’s negative growth, the collective “Others” category also saw declines with 2 million fewer tablets shipped and -9.3% growth.
For Apple, a more significant upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini is expected later this year as a potentially new iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display is introduced to the category.
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I think it was IDC, yes I believe it was IDC that predicted the iPad would have minority share by now. Point is nobody knows yet what the upgrade cycle is for tablets as it hasn’t happened yet. People keep their PCs much longer than they keep their smartphones. How long will they keep their tablets? We don’t know yet. I still have my iPad 2 and am just now considering upgrading.
I do think the iPad 2 skews these findings….people got A LOT of mileage out of that bad boy.
The iPad model mostly used on the iOS app I’m responsible for is the iPad 2. It just shows that a lot of people keep their iPad 2:s and see no reason to upgrade as long as it’s still working.
I’m also still using an iPad 2. It won’t run iOS9, but iOS 8 works fine for me so I’m okay with skipping the upgrade.
In general, though, I think the Windows tablets are more interesting than the iPad because they run full-fledged Windows. You can buy a Surface Pro tablet and have a desktop, laptop, and tablet, all in one machine. No need to sync files and passwords across devices. But the Surface is actually more expensive than a MacBook Air with comparable specs.
If the iPad Pro could run iOS when you detach the keyboard and regular Mac OSX when you attach the keyboard, I’d buy one even if it cost more than a MacBook Pro. Because then I could do everything with one device instead of having a separate laptop and tablet.
You mean it won’t run the iOS 9 Beta? Because it is on the list of iOS9 supported devices..
Wow, look at that! When iOS9 was first announced, I didn’t see anything about the iPad 2 being compatible, only the iPad Air 2. That’s great.
The iPad is on the compatibility list for iOS 9, and it is currently compatible with iOS 9 PB2… I should know, my iPad 2 is running it, with no problems (other than known beta bugs).
The first instance stating only “iPad” should state “iPad 2”. My bad
And remember this. The ‘other’ category includes all the $49 barely functional tablets you can buy at Dollar General.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. With tablets those statistics don’t take into account the specs. With phones at least they distinguish between “dumb” phones and smartphones.
One thing that I don’t understand is how Tim Cook dares to say, and be so convinced that iPad is a productivity tool.
Is he lying or does he really believe that?
I own 4 iPads and I love the iPad Air 2 (I nearly made love with it when it didn’t refresh the 6th Safari tab) and all my close friends combined own about 30 iPads (~1 per couple), and they all use their iPads as consumption devices. They say they very rarely use it for productivity because the iPad just isn’t good enough for productivity. The only productivity they do on their iPads is mail. That’s it. Same goes for me. Every single time I try doing some productivity, I end up taking my Macbook Air because the iPad can’t do a certain thing.
I agree, and even though I have mail on my iPad I usually do that on my iPhone instead even though it has a smaller screen because it’s snappier. I think Apple is trying hard to make the iPad a productivity device for business like storage companies etc with their IBM and whatnot.
We have two iPads in the house and you couldn’t pay me enough to use one day to day for any reason besides perhaps as a remote for my music system. There are all manner of decent “insular” apps – and that’s its biggest issue. There’s simply no fluid/convenient way to interact between multiple applications – the new spit screen is a start, but still doesn’t go far enough.
Here’s a nice test of something you can consider basic content creation. Imagine yourself on the job market. Prepare a resume/cv and then try applying to jobs using only the iPad. Let me tell you, from experience helping my wife do this last year, it’s pretty much impossible in many situations and you’ll have to break out a Macbook every now and then – even if you have Office/Pages installed on your iPad.
You bought two iPads to use as remotes for your music system? Really? Wow…just WOW
Wow I use my iPad all the time. But maybe that’s because I’m not using it so much for productivity. I use a PC at work all day long. The last thing I want to do when in get home is fire up Office or iWork on my iPad. I don’t think Apple designed the iPad to replace your laptop or desktop.
He was probably referring more so to business. With some of the apps being created with IBM iPad is becoming more useful in the enterprise. When people say productivity what exactly do they mean? I manage my finances on my iPad. I file my taxes on my iPad. The only time I pull out my PC is when I need desktop iTunes for something.
I wrote and illustrated an entire novel on an iPad 3rd gen. Just, I suppose, to show it could be done. However, it would have been easier to use a fully fledged computer. I will do so next time.
Of course when Samsung, LG and others are giving their tablets away. Has anyone ever audited IDC or any of these other firms? How do we know their numbers are accurate.
The fact that the numbers are estimates should be the first clue about the accuracy. Also, as a consumer it really shouldn’t matter. Outside of fanboi bragging rights, of course. :)
And this my friends is why Cook talks so much about using. A tablet bought is not a tablet used. That said, I think Apple should have killed on all Retina models long ago and should price their tablets more aggressively.
Since its inception, all that Apple has done with to the iPad is make it thinner.
No surprise the product has stagnated.
It still doesn’t have a freaking LED light, Stylus, wired keyboard nor mouse support for productivity.
The only real difference between the iPad and the hugely successful iPhone is the Size (portability).
Yet, no 7″ Mini?.
8″ Doesn’t fit in a pants back pocket and is too close to 10″ iPads.
There is a way to plug a wired keyboard into a iPad.. you have to use the Photo USB adaptor but it works. Not sure the need for one, as there is something out there called Bluetooth. No mouse because there is no cursor. LED light?? What? There are third party stylus if you really need or want one.
The stagnation of the iPad is due to Market Saturation, and the overall decline of the tablet market.
Yes, but you still need an adapter to deal with. BT Keyborad has latency and drains power from both iPad and Keyboard. The mouse and the stylus is needed for precise work since the finger is a compromise and is not as ergonomic in Desktop mode. Yes a LED light like the iPhone for Pics and other stuuf, why not? Yes there are Stylus but there is no Stylus holder nor the iOS is Stylus aware.
In other works, Apple has done little if anything to make the iPad usable for productivity work.
Keep Trolling..
“It still doesn’t have a freaking LED light, Stylus, wired keyboard nor mouse support for productivity.”
Not to mention sharks with lasers. WTF Apple???
Half of those android tablets are given away when you buy a new android phone.
LG Tablet Market grew 420% though. i think i know why.
I have both a LG Tablet and an iPad.
All I can says is the iPad needs to be more affordable.
*240%
Any ideas where Kindle Fire fits in there, if at all? “Others”??
Try this for Productivity on you iPad…
Create Pro could have a meaningful influence on the perceived use of an iPad. When complete the app will allow the creation, presentation and sharing of a new way to educate and entertain. Visit our web site wisdomquest.com to discover where we are headed. The CREATEit app is loaded with sample items as a teaser and is free until the end of the month.
iPad sales would increase significantly if given more storage space, ie 256 GB instead of 128 GB. It would also allow users to buy more apps, iTunes music, and movies. A no brainer, really…
I bet the vast majority of people with an iPad don’t even fill 16gb. Give it a microSD slot like they have on laptops. Apple needs to make the iPad more powerful and expandable like a real computer and less locked down and crippled
The iPad had one killer feature…battery life. Times have changed an my macbook air from 2013 got battery life as good as my iPad did and so the iPad got handed down to the kids. The iPad needs a new killer feature desperately because its running the same software as your phone but on a bigger screen, but my laptop also has a bigger screen and can do a lot more so the iPad is now just an extra device since intel started taking battery life seriously
1. The iPad is probably the fastest-selling item in history. They sold zillions!
2. The iPad has a long life cycle, so a majority of those zillions of iPads haven’t been replaced yet.