Tablet industry rebounds in 2024 as Amazon's shipments double

[midian182]

In brief: This year is proving to be a good one for the tablet industry, which just experienced its third consecutive quarter of growth. It comes after what was a terrible 2023, when tablet shipments fell to their lowest point in 13 years. It's been an especially good 2024 for Amazon's tablets, having doubled their shipment numbers year-over-year.

According to the latest report from analyst firm IDC, worldwide tablet shipments grew again in the third quarter of 2024, reaching 39.6 million units. That's an impressive 20.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

As always, Apple remains the market leader with a 31.7% share, even though it experienced the smallest yearly growth – from 12.4 million to 12.6 million. The company recently launched an updated $499 iPad mini featuring the A17 Pro SoC and Apple Intelligence support. IDC notes that the back to school season has helped boost sales for this model, but the iPad Pro series has performed below expectations in emerging markets due to the tablets' high prices.

Second-place Samsung saw its tablet sales grow 18.3% to 17.1 million during the quarter thanks to the launch of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, while the Galaxy A9 models drove sales across most regions.

The biggest success story was Amazon. With its wide range of low-cost Fire tablets, including the updated Fire HD 8, and the discounts offered during Prime Day, Amazon returned to the top five. Its 4.6 million units shipped represent a massive 111.3% increase compared to a year earlier.

The final two tablet makers were fourth-place Huawei (3.3 million units shipped, up 44.1%), and fifth-place Lenovo (3 million units shipped, up 14.7%).

IDC writes that one factor driving the uptick in the tablet market is the introduction of generative AI in many models. Microsoft heavily promotes Copilot+ with its Surface Pro. There's also Apple Intelligence, of course, Samsung's Galaxy AI, and even the Fire HD 8 has AI features. IDC believes these AI tools are bringing optimism, increasing interest, and pushing up average selling prices of tablets.

Like many industries, tablets had a nightmare 2023. Shipments declined 20.5%, and Q4 saw the largest fall since 2016.

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Tablet industry rebounds in 2024 as Amazon's shipments double

 

[HardReset]

Why comparison is Apple vs other manufacturers? Because Apple wins? How about Android vs iOS? No-one gives a **** what manufacturer is as long as it's Android. Same way, no-one cares what manufacturer is as long it's iOS.

 

[DanteSmith]

It's handy to have a cheap "okay tablet" for occasional reading. But not so much $1000+ luxury tablets (for whatever reason they exist)...

 

[yRaz]

It's handy to have a cheap "okay tablet" for occasional reading. But not so much $1000+ luxury tablets (for whatever reason they exist)...

I love my tablet for reading comic books and larger news article. That said, I really have zero use for a tablet. I use it maybe 2 or 3 times a month for a few hours.

 

[kiwigraeme]

My son was asked to have an ipad for his primary school ( when to age 12 ), could have used one of school ones in class. I hate Apple but they price the basic iPad pretty reasonably. Image the basic ipad dominates ,some ipad airs for those invested, and the the odd pro for those who may need it, or with the dosh.
Samsung competes well at top end, not sure they really have a good basic model.
Still thing we will see much more competition in this space in next 5 years as SOCs and screens get scarily good and much cheaper.
Most want them for consumption and odd casual game - $150 to $300 tablets released in 3 years on Android will do this quite well. China is going to be printing OLED screens for real cheap in coming years, and competition in SOC space will get fiercer

For media consumption and no serious apps why would you want to be chained up in a walled garden

 

[Axeia]

It's handy to have a cheap "okay tablet" for occasional reading. But not so much $1000+ luxury tablets (for whatever reason they exist)...

Is it though?
Why get a tablet that can do what your phone can already do.
And if you do actual reading e-ink on an e-reader is king (much less strain on the old eyeballs) and there's something to be said for a dedicated device.

Tablet market seems to be split into 3 main groups as I see it.
1) Cheap device to give to the kids so they can watch their shows without taking up the telly and you can set restrictions on the wifi for what can be accessed (Amazons own tablets seem to be popular for this).
2) Gadget freaks that just like having an additional device or try to use a tablet as a laptop replacement for god knows what reason. Or just old people that consider iOS/Android to be easier to use than a desktop OS.
3) The artists in the making that mostly reside on iPads.

It's a market I thought was ridiculous since it was announced (who needs a bigger yet often less powerful smartphone? Just use a laptop). But there seems to be a market for it (although I personally know a lot of people who initially bought one as it was the new thing, let it collect dust after a couple of weeks and never replaced it).

 

[toooooot]

My son was asked to have an ipad for his primary school ( when to age 12 ), could have used one of school ones in class. I hate Apple but they price the basic iPad pretty reasonably. Image the basic ipad dominates ,some ipad airs for those invested, and the the odd pro for those who may need it, or with the dosh.
Samsung competes well at top end, not sure they really have a good basic model.
Still thing we will see much more competition in this space in next 5 years as SOCs and screens get scarily good and much cheaper.
Most want them for consumption and odd casual game - $150 to $300 tablets released in 3 years on Android will do this quite well. China is going to be printing OLED screens for real cheap in coming years, and competition in SOC space will get fiercer

For media consumption and no serious apps why would you want to be chained up in a walled garden

I like Samsung when it comes to their last year top tier models. All the best stuff just a bit worse than the current year. Idk how apple compares here. Theirs probably a bit more expensive, especially the onesd with decent amount of storage

 

[kiwigraeme]

I like Samsung when it comes to their last year top tier models. All the best stuff just a bit worse than the current year. Idk how apple compares here. Theirs probably a bit more expensive, especially the onesd with decent amount of storage

I saw that in the reviews the change of SOC, Apparently for Samsung and even Apple the are pretty reluctant in the use of the top OLED screens also, as adds a significant cost and at the end what choice does the consumer have.
I actually a mid high tier with best screen and pretty good everything else. But only top tier gets best of everything,