FollowWe were warned a while ago that tablets’ golden age is in the past. Apple iPad sales are going down. Generally, tablet sales are dropping really fast because of a simple couple of reasons. Most importantly, tablets have not received drastically improved hardware or software. Surely, some of the newer models received higher quality displays, and better cameras, but most tablets retained similar specs compared to units released one or two years ago.
Secondly, smartphones are getting larger and larger. If just one year or two years ago 5 inches displays seemed a bit too large, now we are getting used to witnessing and owning smartphones with even larger displays. A couple of flagship smartphones sport 5.5 inches displays, the most common example being the LG G 3.
So owning a 7 or 8 inches tablet is starting to seem more and more redundant. Instead of owning two rather similar devices, users prefer to upgrade to the latest flagship smartphones.
Now, according to IDC, ComputerWorld reports, the global tablets shipment will barely have a 6.5 percent increase. IDC claimed just a couple of months ago that tablet shipments will have a double digit increase, as the company was extremely optimist. Right now, the only forecasted growth comes from emerging markets, as the North American and European markets are stagnating at best. With 12 percent increase, the emerging markets counteract the two most powerful market regions’ slowdown. However, even 12 percent increase is significantly less than the 19.4 percent increase prediction for this year by IDC.
Apple iPad sales may get a boost when a 12.9 inches model will be released
The next-generation iPad allegedly hit production in July, but so far Apple is among the most affected tablet producer. The iPad sales are contracted again for the second quarter of 2014. The revised tablet sale predictions for the whole 2014 picture the iPad witnessing a yearlong sale recessions, ComputerWorld claims.
Up to 25 percent of the tablets sold so far in 2014 are equipped with cellular reception modules supporting voice calls. So far there are no signs that the iPad will present this characteristic. However, Tim Cook is a defender of the tablet as a concept, but the Apple iPad sales will have to back him up. The latest rumors about a 12.9 inches iPad may be a winning bet for the successor of Steve Jobs. If his ideas on the tablet sector prove to be less successful than anticipated, there are chances to see Cook stepping down from his position at Apple.
