FRAMINGHAM, MA – After two sequential quarters of decline, the worldwide tablet market recorded 18.6% year-over-year growth in the second quarter, with shipments totaling 38.6 million units, according to International Data Corp. With Covid-related lockdowns continuing to restrict many activities, consumers turned to tablets for entertainment, business, and e-learning.

Apple shipped 12.4 million units in the second quarter to capture the top position once again. As logistical issues lessened, the vendor recorded year-over-year growth of 1.3%. The 10.2" iPad continues to be Apple's bestseller, owing to its affordable price and ability to connect to a keyboard. iPad Air and the latest iPad Pro have also been able to maintain momentum.

Samsung retained the number two position and recorded year-over-year shipment growth of 42.5%. The company shipped 7 million units in the quarter. Much of this growth is attributed to inventory replenishment and high demand from stay-at-home orders.

Huawei shipped 4.8 million units in the second quarter for year-over-year growth of 43.5%. The company gained more than two points of share compared to the same quarter in 2019, which was mainly from its Android detachable portfolio. The vendor's focus on Windows detachable has taken a back seat as it faces heavy competition from traditional notebook PCs, which out-compete detachables both in price and performance. Huawei continued to face significant headwinds outside of China. However, it managed to record year-over-year growth in both Europe and the rest of Asia/Pacific.

Amazon regained the fourth position with growth of 52% year-over-year. The company also gained share from 7.3% in the second quarter of 2019 to 9.3% in the most recent quarter. To make the most of the situation, the vendor launched new 8" Fire HD tablets with upgraded processors and storage to cater to users looking for inexpensive devices for content consumption.

Lenovo finished the quarter in the fifth position, recording year-over-year growth of 51% and shipping 2.8 million units. The vendor's diverse portfolio helped them tap into all markets across the globe. However, its lower-end tablets seem to be the most sought-after devices, says IDC. In the current quarter, Lenovo grew across all regions except China due to strong competition from Huawei.

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