The global market of tablets is in constant decline. This is a reality that already lingers for more than two years and which does not seem to take a turn in the opposite direction, at least not in the immediate future.
All the manufacturers, with the exception of Amazon and Huawei, have experienced a drop in annual sales of tablets. And although the Apple iPad is not apart from this trend, you can still take pride in leading sales.
The iPad leads the market overall of the tablets, but with nuances
The market of tablets, such as the smartwatches market, is in the doldrums. Despite the huge differences, both underwent a period of boom, even in boom, after which sales began to recede. The causes, for obvious reasons, are different. In the case of the tablets, perhaps is the disappointment of them users to the not find them the utility desired. That promise that might be the substitute for the PC seems to not come and in practice, remain as content consumption devices in the majority of cases.
The last report by the consultancy firm IDC about tablets worldwide sales reveals that, if well this market continues in franco recoil with a drop of 14.7% compared to the year past, Apple is still leader of the same, and even increases his advantage over the competition. This is because, in essence, two possible readings of the results:
- The reading positive: Apple has sold more units of iPad to their competitors.
- The negative reading: Apple has fallen less than its competitors (which also has its positive side)
Indeed, because while Apple keeps the leadership in the market global of the tablets, it true is that also their sales have fallen. In particular, in the third quarter of 2016 Apple has sold around 600,000 units of iPad less than during the same period of the previous year, from 9.6 million to 9.3 million. In annual values, this means a fall of 6.2%.
In second place is Samsung, its arch rival, which has experienced a greater fall from 8.1 million tablets sold in the third quarter of 2015 to 6.5 million in the same period in 2016. This means that the South Korean triple the annual fall of Apple iPad with 19.3% less.
The fastest growing Amazon experience it who in one year has increased its sales of tablets in a % 319,9 However, low numbers of departure (0.8 million units sold in the third quarter of 2015) only granted 1.5% of current market share.
The fourth position is for Lenovo that, as Apple and Samsun, also has experienced a fall annual, in this case, of the 10.8%, leaving his share of market set in the 6.0% world.
Finally, Huawei occupies the fifth position with 28.4% annual growth and participation in the global market of tablets of 3.7%.
And what is the situation within the iPad range?
With the range iPad is produces an apparent contradiction that already we saw during the quarter earlier. While sales of the iPad Pro allowed that increase the profit on the iPad due family, basically, to their higher prices, this IDC report points out that the Air iPad and the mini iPad shipments accounted for around two-thirds of the total during the fourth fiscal quarter.
On this aspect, it is necessary to point out that it is not official data since Apple not breaks down sales of the iPad, if not that provides data on all models has on sale.
Should Apple be glad of these figures?
Well, the answer to this question is complicated. Obviously is an achievement to maintain leadership in a market that has been years in decline, it is also the iPad sales falling at one slower pace than sales from the competition, which allows to increase distances. But certainly any, the reality is that them sales continue falling and that accordingly, both Apple as, in general, the rest of manufacturers, not have known, or not have could, convince to the consumer about the utility of a product as the tablet.
