X

Who needs a 7″ tablet when you can have a 6″ smartphone?Tablet shipments are down as small tablets or phablets (phone and tablet) eats into demand for 7 inch tablets, according to analysts IDC.

“In some markets, consumers are already making the choice to buy a large smartphone rather than buying a small tablet, and as a result we’ve lowered our long-term forecast,” says Tom Mainelli, IDC Research Director, Tablets. 

The difference between a 6-inch smartphone and a 7-inch tablet isn’t great enough to warrant purchasing both.
The market has trended towards small tablets in a big way of late, but the rise of large phones or phablets like the HTC Max and the Samsung 5.7″ Note 3 could push consumers back towards larger 10 inch tablets.  
kzfyvsrs embeded image 1 Phablets Eat Tablets

Analysts have downgraded shipment forecasts of iPads, Samsung Tabs & Co to 221.3 million units in 2013 – down from 227.4 million forecasted. 

Tablet growth is forecast to slow down to 22% in 2014, as tabs reach saturation. 
“In mature markets like the U.S. where tablets have been shipping in large volumes since 2010 and are already well established, we’re less concerned about big phones cannibalizing shipments and more worried about market saturation,” says Mainelli. 
By 2017, annual market growth will slow to single-digit percentages and shipments will peak at 386.3 million, according to IDC’s latest forecast. 
One key factor to watch going forward is the mix of small vs. large tablets. 
Apple’s launch of the iPad Air, a much thinner and lighter version of its 9.7-inch product, could herald another market transition back towards larger screens. 
A trend towards larger tablets could be a positive development for Windows tablets, which generally benefits from a larger screen area. But Microsoft-based tablets are not expected to steal shares from iPad and Android for a while yet. 
For months, Microsoft and Intel have been promising more affordable Windows tablets and 2-in-1 devices. But still, analysts don’t expect them to gain much traction. 
“Tablets are continuing to sell really well and are certainly filtering down to every member of the family,” Betta Home Living CEO Graeme Cunningham told CN. With starting prices sub $100, these are the perfect replacement for portable DVD players for kids on long family drives. The Galaxy Kids tablet is also proving popular, he said. 
JB Hi-Fi has also reported excellent sales of the Samsung Note 3 phablet, Samsung Galaxy Tabs and Microsoft Surface 2 is also “starting to get traction,” which Marketing Manager Scott Browning admits he is “very surprised” about. 
ELX DIG Crosscat Promo 728x90 Mar25 Phablets Eat Tablets
AU X8 Banner 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
ChannelNews AZ100 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
FA 979 HN MDF SG14 14gen 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
MaxRanger4K Leaderboard 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
hitachi banner 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
Marshall 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
728 x 90 Phablets Eat Tablets
Arlo EOFY25 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
Flick of a switch 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
HAIER Series 600 FLW HPD Pairs 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
JBL TourPro3 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
728X90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
Px7 S3 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
Uniden Channelnews SoloX July 2024 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
BEL2535 BPB024 4SQ Banners 728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
GOTHAM 728px x 90px Phablets Eat Tablets
Skullcandy 728x90 1 Phablets Eat Tablets
Westan 728x90px Phablets Eat Tablets
728x90 Phablets Eat Tablets
241211 SAV Ruark CNewsJan Leader Phablets Eat Tablets
Hisense KV BannerAd 728 90 Phablets Eat Tablets
BlueAnt 4SQM PumpAirUltra 728x90px Phablets Eat Tablets


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE