A new report highlights a sharp decline in tablet shipments as the world gradually moves away from the peak of the pandemic, signaling a decrease in consumer and education demand.
Shifting Consumer Priorities
Consumer spending on tablets has seen a notable decline, with factors such as inflation and concerns about a potential recession taking precedence. Unlike notebooks, tablets are not considered essential for business productivity, further contributing to the decrease in demand.
Analyst Himani Mukka noted that while consumer weakness is expected to persist into the third quarter, back-to-school promotions and new tablet launches ahead of the holiday season are anticipated to provide a slight boost in demand.
Regional Trends
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are emphasizing domestic production, with governments actively promoting the purchase of locally manufactured goods. Major players like Lenovo, Acer, and Samsung have embraced this shift, particularly in countries like India.
Global PC Market Overview
The latest data indicates a second consecutive quarter of decline in worldwide PC shipments, including tablets, which fell by 14% to 105 million units in Q2. Tablet shipments have experienced a decline for four consecutive quarters, dropping by 11% year-on-year to 34.8 million units globally.
Impact on Chromebook Market
The global Chromebook market, which saw a surge in demand for education purposes in key markets a year ago, has now experienced shipment declines year-on-year since Q3 2021. Research analyst Brian Lynch highlighted this trend, indicating a challenging period for Chromebook sales.
Market Leaders
Lenovo emerged as the leader in the total PC market, including desktops, notebooks, and tablets, shipping 20.9 million units worldwide in Q2, capturing a 20% market share. Apple secured the second position with shipments of 16.6 million units, experiencing a 19% year-on-year decline.
