Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,861
39,820


While the iPad has long been the world's most popular tablet, newly published market research helps put Apple's lead into perspective.

According to estimates shared by research firm IDC, Apple shipped 12.9 million iPads in the second quarter of 2021. By comparison, IDC estimated that Samsung and Amazon shipped a combined 12.3 million tablets in the quarter, suggesting that Apple shipped more tablets than Samsung and Amazon did combined in the quarter.

iPadOS-Widgets.png

A big caveat is that Apple no longer reports iPad unit sales in its earnings results, forcing IDC to estimate shipments based off the iPad quarterly revenue number that Apple does share. As a result, other research firms like Strategy Analytics and Canalys have different iPad shipment numbers for the second quarter, but it doesn't change the narrative, as both have Apple with a significant lead over Samsung and Amazon.

idc-2q21-tablets.jpg

iPad sales continued to surge last quarter as many people continue to work, learn, and communicate with others remotely. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the ‌iPad‌ had its best June quarter in nearly a decade, with the company reporting iPad revenue of $7.4 billion in the quarter, a significant increase over $6.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The launch of a new iPad Pro with an M1 chip and a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model likely also bolstered sales during the quarter.

Article Link: Apple Shipped More Tablets Than Samsung and Amazon Did Combined Last Quarter
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Solomani
Wow, Amazon and Samsung make iPads? Bad title guys... Apple shipped more TABLETS than Amazon or Samsung...

(you fixed it while i posted this snide rude comment... good job guys!) 😀
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Not very surprising, the iPad is considered by some as Apples best device, use mine daily. An incredibly useful device. And most people think iPad when they think tablet. And that’s despite having the worst auto correction and spelling system of any device on sale. But you forgive it because it’s so good otherwise.
 
Last edited:
Every middle manager knows it’s not how much money you make the company but rather how much more you make them. Terrible YOY. Might as well switch to baking bread. Apple could disrupt the market with some smart twisty ties.
 
That's because they're better. I had a Samsung AT & T gave me for free years ago, and it was awful, and supported by the latest OS for less than a year. I have a 2017 model Fire HD 10, and it's is also AWFUL, and also, within 2 years, you can't get the latest OS on it.

Both were slow, frustrating disasters. The Fire tablet sits on a shelf and every few months I turn it on and get annoyed with it and turn it right off.

My GF has an iPad Air 2 that will get iPadOS 15.

Is an iPad a computer? Not in my opinion.

Is an iPad the best tablet by a mile? Absolutely.
 
That's because they're better. I had a Samsung AT & T gave me for free years ago, and it was awful, and supported by the latest OS for less than a year. I have a 2017 model Fire HD 10, and it's is also AWFUL, and also, within 2 years, you can't get the latest OS on it.

Both were slow, frustrating disasters. The Fire tablet sits on a shelf and every few months I turn it on and get annoyed with it and turn it right off.

My GF has an iPad Air 2 that will get iPadOS 15.

Is an iPad a computer? Not in my opinion.

Is an iPad the best tablet by a mile? Absolutely.

Apple have abandoned the idea that the iPad is a computer. It’s now positioned as an accessory to your real computer.

iPad works so well because of the benefits of the ecosystem. If you’re just using a tablet for light work and content consumption then having all your documents and settings automatically kept in sync is a huge convenience.
 
LOL! And Amazon sells their Fire tablets at a loss according to all indicators, while Apple operates at a profit on all of its iPad models. Samsung keeps offering me money for my old iPads to get me to buy one of theirs. Neither seems like a solid business plan for long term growth. Perhaps, Android for tablets isn’t really something to rely on long term.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
The iPad is the product that apple
That's because they're better. I had a Samsung AT & T gave me for free years ago, and it was awful, and supported by the latest OS for less than a year. I have a 2017 model Fire HD 10, and it's is also AWFUL, and also, within 2 years, you can't get the latest OS on it.

Both were slow, frustrating disasters. The Fire tablet sits on a shelf and every few months I turn it on and get annoyed with it and turn it right off.

My GF has an iPad Air 2 that will get iPadOS 15.

Is an iPad a computer? Not in my opinion.

Is an iPad the best tablet by a mile? Absolutely.
Couldn't agree more. Every time I demo a tablet other than an iPad, I am amazed how clunky and awful they are ... still.
 
The amazon tablets are not very good in my experience, though they have gotten a bit better. I have no experience with samsung ones, though. But Apple has managed to keep the iPads on top of the heap over the years. It is surprising that android has not had the same kind of inroads on tablets as they have in other areas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Samsung makes a good flagship Tablet with the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, which might not see a refresh this year.

Everything else is mediocre at best.

Especially in terms of pure power with the chipset, Apple is light years ahead
 
Apple have abandoned the idea that the iPad is a computer. It’s now positioned as an accessory to your real computer.

How so? Just because it doesn’t do enough for you to make it your only computing device doesn’t mean Apple have “abandoned that idea”. I have many family members who hasn’t had laptops for years and only uses their iPad for work, photos, and consumption. It’s very much possible (and I suspect not uncommon) for a lot of users.
 
From my 30+ years in the computer industry, I had several interactions with Gartner and a couple with IDC. I retired 6 years ago, but I'm going to assume their methodology hasn't gotten any better meaning that any of their numbers aren't much better than a WAG and should be taken with a heaping truckload of salt. Although as an AAPL shareholder, I'd like to hope they're correct.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.