Apple's iPad continues to dominate the global tablet market, according to the preliminary quarterly results from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Apple is said to have recorded its best shipment total for the iPad, shipping 17 million iPads (up from 11.8 million units in the first quarter of 2012). Apple's previous record was 15.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Research director of mobile connected devices at IDC, Tom Mainelli, says: “The vast majority of consumers continue to favour the iPad over competitors, and Apple is seeing increasingly strong interest in the device from vertical markets - especially education.
“While iPad shipment totals are beginning to slow a bit in mature markets where the device saw early traction, growth in other regions is clearly more than making up the difference.”
IDC says total worldwide tablet shipments for the second quarter of 2012 are estimated at 25 million units (up from the 18.7 million of quarter one). “That represents a quarter-over-quarter increase of 33.6% and a robust year-over-year growth rate of 66.2%, up from 15 million units in the second quarter of 2011.”
The tablet market as a whole is on the upswing, with four of the top five worldwide vendors recording year-on-year increases in shipments. Samsung, in particular, is seeing very strong growth, with 2.4 million units shipped in the second quarter - a 117% increase on the 1.1 million units shipped the same time last year.
Amazon has also seen an improvement on the first quarter, with 1.2 million Kindle Fire units shipped. In fourth place, Asus shipped a total of 855 454 units (up from 397 048), but it is noted that the figures for the new co-branded Asus/Google Nexus 7 are not reflected as the product only officially started shipping in the third quarter.
Acer was the only vendor in the top five to record a decline in shipments (385 458 in total, down from 629 222 last year).
Local stats
Samsung accounts for the majority of the Android tablets, with both the 10.1- and 7-inch versions of the Galaxy Tab. “Samsung is seeing far greater traction in the local market than it has seen globally because it doesn't face the same legal issues here as it does in other markets where Apple has tried to stop the sale of Galaxy Tabs. Samsung is also a very visible brand in SA and it has had a strong presence for a long time, which it has been able to leverage to gain traction in the local tablet market.”
Goldstuck adds there is no indication of when, or if, the Google Nexus 7 will become available locally, and it will also be hindered by the fact that Google lacks a formal retail presence in SA.
According to Goldstuck, Windows 8 will be a big player and he expects the market to be carved up between Apple, Android and Windows 8. “It's important to note that just about every manufacturer will come out with a Windows 8 tablet, so the real threat will be to Android. Consumers will find greater utility for the Windows 8 tablets over what Android has to offer.”
Should Apple release the long-rumoured iPad Mini, Goldstuck says he foresees definite success in the local market, especially if it is substantially cheaper than the 10-inch iPad. “Samsung would have to reduce the price of its 7-inch tablets substantially in order to compete.”
IDC programme VP of client and displays, Bob O'Donnell, says global competition will only continue to heat up in the second half of this year. “In addition to major new products from Amazon and quite likely Apple, we can also expect an influx of Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows RT-based tablets starting in late October.
“If anything, there's a real risk that people will have too many options from which to choose this holiday season. Consumers baffled by the differences between Amazon and Google versions of Android, or Windows 8 and Windows RT, may well default to market leader Apple. Or they may simply choose to remain on the sideline for another cycle.”
Share
