Tablet shipments worldwide increased significantly in the third quarter of 2024, surging 20.4% over the same period a year earlier and hitting 39.6 million units. Such growth was emphasized in a report released recently by the International Data Corporation (IDC). Apple remains, as usual, at the top of the market with 12.6 million units shipped.
That translates into a 1.4% year-over-year (YoY) bump, and while that barely moves the needle, it still cements Apple‘s position as the top in the tablet space. The sales of Apple’s popular lineup are steady as new software features and design updates entice loyal customers.
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More About the Tablet Market Rise
Meanwhile, Samsung retained its status as the second largest supplier of tablets shipping 7.1 million units in Q3 2024, garnering an 18.3% YoY growth rate. A huge part of that success can be chalked down to the affordable Galaxy Tab A9 series, which consumers have really come to appreciate as a good options this brand has to offer. At the same time, Samsung has benefited from its expanding commercial sales, which is also strengthening its tablet performance in the consumer and enterprise segments.
Amazon came in third with 4.6 million units shipped, on the back of a remarkable year-on-year growth rate of 111.3%. Much of that spike was due to the sales spike driven by deep discounts on Fire tablets during Amazon’s Prime Day, where price-sensitive consumers naturally gravitated. At the same time, HUAWEI kept the fourth position with 3.2 million units shipped, still a robust year-on-year increase of 44.1%. Lenovo, even though falling down to 5th, shipped 3 million units and saw a YoY increase of 14.7% thanks to sustained demand in the Chinese and Western European markets.
Going forward, analysts predict this upward trend will continue for the tablet market. Major promotional events and the holiday season are right around the corner, and retailers are eager to replenish their stocks. The introduction of advanced AI features in tablets is anticipated to drive further interest, providing users with enhanced experiences that could make tablets even more attractive to a wide array of consumers.
FAQs
What contributed to Amazon’s massive tablet shipment growth?
Amazon’s tablet sales surged by 111.3% due to Prime Day promotions, making its budget-friendly Fire tablets particularly popular.
Why is the tablet market expected to grow further?
Increased channel restocking for holiday promotions and the integration of AI features are expected to drive continued growth in tablet sales.
