Skip to main content

17.4 Million Media Tablets were Shipped in 1Q 2012

The ongoing outlook for the high-growth media tablet market segment is subject to seasonal fluctuation. According to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), a drop in shipments of Google Android-based media tablets was offset by a strong quarter from Apple -- and this result caused the media tablet market to miss projections for the first quarter of 2012 (1Q12).

Total worldwide media tablet shipments for the quarter reached 17.4 million units in 1Q12 -- that's 1.2 million units below IDC's prior projection for the quarter. While IDC predicted a sharp seasonal slowdown of -34 percent from the previous quarter's record-breaking 28.2 million units, the actual decline was slightly steeper at -38.4 percent.

However, that being said, the total still represents a solid year-over-year growth rate of 120 percent, which is up from the 7.9 million units shipped in the first quarter of 2011.

"Apple's move to position the iPad as an all-purpose tablet, instead of just a content consumption device, is resonating with consumers as well as educational and commercial buyers. And its decision to keep a lower-priced iPad 2 in the market after it launched the new iPad in March seems to be paying off as well," said Tom Mainelli, research director, Mobile Connected Devices at IDC.

Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads during the quarter, that's down from 15.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, and grew its worldwide share from 54.7 percent in 4Q11 to 68 percent in 1Q12. Amazon entered the market in 4Q11 to grab second place with a 16.8 percent share that was based on a shipment of 4.8 million units.

Its share decline significantly in the first quarter to just over 4 percent, falling to third place as a result. Samsung took advantage of Amazon's decline to regain the number two position, while Lenovo moved into the number four spot, followed by Barnes & Noble at number five.

Although total Android shipments were down sharply in 1Q12, companies such as Samsung and Lenovo are beginning to gain traction in the market with their latest generation of Android products. IDC expects the segment to rebound quickly as other vendors introduce new products in the second quarter and beyond.

IDC says that the market impact from the introduction of Microsoft Windows-based tablets is yet to be determined. Pricing on the new Windows tablets hasn't been announced, and that will be a key factor that could limit its potential. Consumer reception to the new OS and the success of integration with traditional Windows systems will also be critical.

"The worldwide tablet market is entering a new phase in the second half of 2012 that will undoubtedly reshape the competitive landscape," said Bob O'Donnell, program vice president, Clients and Displays at IDC.

"While Apple will continue to sit comfortably on the top for now, the battle for the next several positions is going to be fierce. Throw in Ultrabooks, the launch of Windows 8, and a few surprise product launches, and you have all the makings of an incredible 2012 holiday shopping season."

Popular posts from this blog

How Savvy Pioneers Lead the Future of Work

Hybrid and fully remote work are inevitable in the Global Networked Economy where high-performance talent demands flexibility from employers. To enable these progressive work models, organizations are investing in a wide range of technologies to support more agile types of employment.  According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), leading organizations will spend nearly $1 billion on the Future of Work (FoW) in 2023 -- that's an increase of 18.8 percent over 2022. Future of Work Market Development "Work models continue to evolve, but 37 percent of decision-makers in a recent global survey note that Remote and Hybrid work models will be an embedded part of accepted work practices, supported by a continued shift to the cloud, increasingly instrumented and interconnected physical workplaces, and intelligent digital workspaces," said Holly Muscolino, group vice president at IDC . According to the IDC assessment, organizations must mak

Human Resource Transformation Enabled by IT

Many senior executives are taking a proactive approach to digital business transformation in order to achieve their strategic goals. Delivering revenue growth and profitability is now imperative for every function, including Human Resources (HR). The top 3 priority HR technologies this year are skills management, learning experience platforms, and internal talent marketplaces, according to the latest worldwide market study by Gartner. "With a tumultuous global economy, HR technology leaders face a balancing act in 2023," said Sam Grinter, director at Gartner . "Leaders must anticipate greater levels of accountability and demand for measurable outcomes to justify new technology investments." HR Transformation Market Development Forty-four percent of HR leaders report driving better business outcomes is their number one strategic priority for HR technology transformation over the next three years. Growth in headcount and skills (26 percent) and cost optimization (17 p

Virtual Reality Market Set to Reach $100 Billion

Virtual Reality (VR) market growth is now finally coming to fruition. Thanks to current actions and market momentum, VR is approaching what can be considered critical mass. And, not a moment too soon. This growth momentum comes from new hardware and content releases, accelerating enterprise value recognition, and a significant metaverse wild card that could potentially lift adoption and usage. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, over 85 million VR Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) will be shipped in 2027 across consumer and enterprise segments, creating a $100 billion VR market that includes hardware, software, and services. Virtual Reality Market Development "Expectations have been high in VR for years, and even decades, without notable growth to show. That growth is finally coming over the next five years," said Eric Abbruzzese, research director at ABI Research . The barrier to entry is lower than ever, all while content performance and user experien