According to IDC preliminary data, report has revealed that Worldwide Tablet shipments in the first quarter of 2024 saw a slight increase of 0.5% totaling 30.8 million units.
This growth followed a decline lasting over two years since the second quarter of 2021, mainly due to market saturation.
Despite ongoing economic challenges, the tablet market started showing signs of recovery in the first quarter, which was driven by the beginning of a refresh cycle.
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With the overall growth in tablet shipments, major players in the market recorded decline in units shipped. Apple which currently leads the market with 9.9 million units shipped, reported 8.5% year-over-year decline due to economic conditions and a lack of new models.
In second position, Samsung recorded a 5.8% decline in shipments, influenced by competitive promotions and a shortage of new products. Notably, the tablet market is currently dominated by Apple and Samsung. The two companies hold a combined market share of over 50%.
Meanwhile, Chinese multinational technology company Huawei, maintained its third position and achieved an impressive 43.6% year-over-year growth, likely benefiting from the resurgence of its smartphone business.
Here is an overview of Top Five Tablet Companies, Worldwide Shipments, and Year-over-Year Growth
1.) Apple shipped 9.9 units in Q1 2024, and faced a 8.5% decline in shipments compared to the previous year.
2.) Samsung shipped 6.7 units in Q1 2024, and faced a 5.8% decline in shipments influenced by competitive promotions and a lack of new products.
3.) Huawei shipped 2.9 units in Q1 2024, achieving a remarkable 43.6% year-over-year growth with 2.9 million units shipped. Analysts predict that the resurgence of its smartphone business likely played a crucial role to this growth.
4.) Lenovo in fourth place, shipped 2.1 in Q1 2024, recording a 13.2% increase in shipments.
5.) Xiaomi retained its position in the top 5, shipped 1.8 units in Q1 2024, with an impressive 92.6% year-over-year growth. The company saw significant growth outside its largest market, China, across various regions.
Despite the challenges facing the tablet market, analysts are optimistic that there would be a shift towards premium tablets as consumers seek productivity oriented devices. Although, the tablet market is poised to face PCs and Smartphones, which could contribute to a lackluster outlook.
On the other hand, leveraging AI technologies could enable tablets to enhance user interactions, optimise performance, and offer personalised experiences, potentially revitalising the market. This trend underscores the potential for AI to drive transformative changes in tablet functionalities, making them more competitive in the evolving landscape of personal computing.
Looking ahead, while challenges persist with strong competition from PCs and smartphones, AI-driven innovations hold promise for tablets to regain relevance and appeal to consumers.