Tablet growth slows considerably as Apple's iPad realizes first yearly shipment decline

[Shawn Knight]

Apple started off the week on a high note but even that can do little to wash away the fact that the iPad’s popularity has been on the decline for quite some time. The latest report from market research and analytics firm International Data Corporation (IDC) casts a dark shadow not only over Apple but the tablet industry as a whole.

Worldwide tablet shipments are expected to increase just 7.2 percent for 2014 to 235.7 million units. Those may sound like modest numbers but they pale in comparison to the 52.5 percent growth that tablet manufacturers enjoyed last year.

For Apple, 2014 will go down as the first full year in which the iPad will see a yearly decline in shipment volume with the Cupertino-based company expected to ship just 64.9 million units – 12.7 percent fewer than last year. It’s a bit ironic when you consider there are now more iPad models to choose from than ever before.

There are plenty of reasons why tablets aren’t flying off store shelves as fast as they once were. For starters, the market is slowly creeping up on its saturation point meaning most of the people that want a tablet have already purchased one.

What’s more, people tend to hold on to their tablets longer than they do a smartphone despite the fact that tablets are generally cheaper. As daily companions, smartphones see more use and abuse which is one reason why they’re upgraded so frequently. What’s more, wireless providers have made it much easier to get a new phone than in previous years.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/58972-tablet-growth-slows-considerably-apple-ipad-realizes-first.html

 

[TomSEA]

So much for the "tablets are going to replace PC's" warnings the "experts" gave us a couple of years ago.

 

[ET3D]

So much for the "tablets are going to replace PC's" warnings the "experts" gave us a couple of years ago.

What experts? I'm sure you could find someone saying that, but you'll find a lot more saying it wouldn't happen.

Of course it does make sense that in the long run phones will replace PC's.

 

[captaincranky]

Think of the poor people in China that Foxconn will have to lay off!

I mean after all, two bucks and hour, is still two bucks an hour. (I'll bet it sounds like a whole lot more though, when you convert the currency to Yen).

 

[mailpup]

Chinese currency is the yuan.

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Chinese currency is the yuan.

maybe they go shopping in Japan?

As daily companions, smartphones see more use and abuse which is one reason why they’re upgraded so frequently.

Yeah, and tablet owners realize that the tablet was pretty cool when it was new, but now that the novelty has worn off it just sits around unless the kids want to use it for a game or something. There's no need to upgrade something that is hardly used.

 

[captaincranky]

Chinese currency is the yuan.

You're absolutely correct. Thanks for the heads up!

However, a Yen is worth about 1/2 Yuan.. That way Foxconn worker's payday would only bring half the numerical value of the Yet at payday.

It wouldn't actually be more in Yen, but it would sure seem like it....(y)

Yeah, and tablet owners realize that the tablet was pretty cool when it was new, but now that the novelty has worn off it just sits around unless the kids want to use it for a game or something. There's no need to upgrade something that is hardly used.

Apple had an iPad commercial showing how you could use it as a TV remote control! Which begs the question, "how is it even remotely possible that people could get tired of changing channels on their TVs"?

(Edited to insert bad pun).