Global Tablet Market Declines By 8 Percent In 2015, According To Strategy Analytics
New data released by Strategy Analytics revealed that the global tablet market recorded its worst year-on-year performance dropping eight percent in sales in 2015. Yahoo! Tech reported Monday that the global tablet market sold 224.3 million units in the previous year.
The market researcher linked the decline of tablet sales to the poor performance of Apple.
"Apple suffered big setbacks this year, as a lack of innovation during the last several years caught up to iPad sales," said Peter King, Research Director at Tablet & Touchscreen Strategies service. "Instead, Apple has focused on its MacBooks, iPhone 6, 6 Plus and Apple Watch releases."
He continued, "While we see real long-term potential for the iPad Pro in the enterprise and verticals, there was not enough demand to move the needle."
Strategy Analytics revealed that tablets that come with detachable keyboards recorded a year-on-year increase of 379 percent in sales in 2015. However, the increase is "on top of a small base and cannot make a major directional difference for the wider tablet market," Korea Joongang Daily noted Wednesday.
"2-in-1 Detachable Tablets have reached an inflection point in 2015 as computing needs continue to trend more and more mobile and Tablets with Windows 10 can compete against iOS in the premium and high price bands and equally well against Android in the mid and lower price bands," said Eric Smith, senior analyst of Tablet & Touchscreen Strategies service.
"The Q4 2015 launch of Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book was met with many 'Surface clones' by Microsoft's OEM partners at lower price points. This variety of devices will bolster momentum of Windows Tablets going forward," Smith added.
Apple's market share during the last quarter tumbled 25 percent as compared to the same period of the previous year, while Samsung fell 17 percent and iOS plunged 22 percent. On the other hand, Windows Tablet shipments increased by 59 percent over the year