Apple's Share of Worldwide Tablet Shipments Falls Below 40% in 1Q 2013

[AZREOSpecialist]

Biggest crock of **** ever

Sorry, had to say it. IDC is quoting shipping numbers for companies who don't announce shipments, and compare them to Apple's reported iPad shipments. Are you kidding me?

And where the F are those 8+ million Samsung tablets? I sure don't see them out in the wild. Samsung, what planet are you shipping them to?

 

[Renzatic]

Although I generally agree with your conclusion, the two examples you gave are really bad. They can all be done quite easily on iOS, as long as you have accrued your knowledge about the regarding apps. The examples obviously illustrate that you haven’t been using iOS devices a lot.

Two years on my iPhone, and about a year on my iPad. Admittedly, I've only been doing extra complicated projects on my iPad only recently, but I do have a goodly amount of experience with the platform.

I should clarify what I mean by Google image search (or reverse image search if you prefer). I know you can upload a picture via URL, but it's so much easier on Windows/OSX where you drag an image from a folder or your desktop onto the search bar and have it look up similar images. It's little convenience features like that I always end up missing when I'm using my iPad heavily.

 

[samcraig]

There is a big reason why the Apple of today won't follow in the footsteps of the Apple of the 1990s. Actually, there are 150 billion reasons.

Apple doesn't have to worry about bankruptcy anymore. And with that kind of money they can afford to buy tens of millions of parts at a time. Or build new facilities and data centers. Or buy companies and talent. There's no limit to the amount of freedom that much cash can bring.

There's really no comparison between the Apple of the "bad ol' days" and the Apple of today.

But getting back to market share... why is "Android" having more market share such a threat to Apple?

I put "Android" in quotes because it's not really a singular thing. "Android" is made up of hundreds of phones in all shapes and sizes... and price ranges.

Are we surprised that, in India for instance, that an $80 Android phone is more popular than an iPhone that costs 5 times as much?

Of course every Android phone sold means that one less iPhone is sold. But someone who is buying an $80 smartphone wasn't looking at Apple phones at all.

Still though... Apple sells a ton of phones... and expensive phones at that. They sells phones as fast as they can make them. And Apple has developer support, and accessory support, and customer satisfaction.

So like I said earlier... Android gets the "most market share" headline... but it seems like a hollow victory.

Agree to a point. But the just because a company has 150B doesn't make them invincible.

And last I checked - this thread and stat was about tablets. Not phones.

And I'd say there's a decent amount of accessories (and growing) for Android phones, tablets, etc. There's developer support. And while Apple is the crowning champ for Customer Satisfaction - that doesn't negate that Android and the manufacturers that make phones/tablets from having any or even very good #s as well.

It's not a hollow victory - but it's not the ONLY thing that matters either.

Marketshare IS, however, indicative (most likely) of longevity because of investments in an ecosystem. It plays a role at least. But given that both Android and iOS have great marketshare anyway - neither one has to worry. And all of this back and forth about marketshare and profits is (as I have said before) silly. The major players are making money - and unless you're a stockholder in one or the other - these stats are just link baits for forums to have a pissing contest of ridiculousness.

 

[iGrip]

Probably because the public at large generally like Samsung devices. It's only on Apple specific sites that they're relentlessly and endlessly bashed for being crappy.

I wonder if Samsung will make a Windows 8 tablet. That would be sweet. Its the only tablet OS that didn't start as a cellphone OS, and which can run full programs instead of little applets.

 

[samcraig]

Sorry, had to say it. IDC is quoting shipping numbers for companies who don't announce shipments, and compare them to Apple's reported iPad shipments. Are you kidding me?

And where the F are those 8+ million Samsung tablets? I sure don't see them out in the wild. Samsung, what planet are you shipping them to?

Clearly they are all going into landfill. I mean - if they keep shipping tablets and people like you INSIST they are just sitting on shelves - then they either must be dumping them in Area 51 or all of these retailers keep buying more storage to take on more inventory

 

[iGrip]

What does Android have to show for its phenomenal market share... other than that headline?

A better ecosystem, deeper integration with already-owned devices, and most importantly, mindshare.

 

[pirg]

Agree to a point. But the just because a company has 150B doesn't make them invincible.

Some perspective. Times that by 150. Apple is going to just fine. They're pretty much never going to run out of that money unless Tim Cook retires and a cicada is appointed as CEO.

And last I checked - this thread and stat was about tablets. Not phones.

The iPad is growing much faster than the iPhone. Yes, this thread was about tablets. No, that doesn't change anything.

And I'd say there's a decent amount of accessories (and growing) for Android phones, tablets, etc. There's developer support. And while Apple is the crowning champ for Customer Satisfaction - that doesn't negate that Android and the manufacturers that make phones/tablets from having any or even very good #s as well.

True.

It's not a hollow victory - but it's not the ONLY thing that matters either.

It really is, though.

Marketshare IS, however, indicative (most likely) of longevity because of investments in an ecosystem. It plays a role at least. But given that both Android and iOS have great marketshare anyway - neither one has to worry. And all of this back and forth about marketshare and profits is (as I have said before) silly. The major players are making money - and unless you're a stockholder in one or the other - these stats are just link baits for forums to have a pissing contest of ridiculousness.

Yep.

 

[iGrip]

I think for now it's safe to say that iPads still will receive plenty (if not all) of attention when it comes to third party developers

As market share falls, developer interest will wane. As developer interest wanes, market share will fall.

To paraphrase Bill Clinton's campaign team: it's the ecosystem, stupid.

 

[pirg]

As market share falls, developer interest will wane. As developer interest wanes, market share will fall.

To paraphrase Bill Clinton's campaign team: it's the ecosystem, stupid.

Marketshare for iOS has been in a free-fall for the last two years. When will developer interest wane?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Blackberry (RIM) was the dominant phone in the market (Market Share & Profit).

Then a disruption happened in the mobile arena with the iPhone.

Then a disruption happened in the mobile arena with Android.

Read the following story on how RIM (Blackberry) couldn't fall.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=949d3940-1a97-4d6e-a643-7ab736fc6d7c&k=48131

"“RIM has demonstrated a quality of genius in being able to pump out model after model in handhelds,” he said. “They’ll continue to reign supreme in the e-mailing space until there’s some kind of revolution in that kind of communications system.”"

Amazing how much has changed in so little time.

Yes... Blackberry got destroyed by the iPhone and Android.

In other words... people stopped buying Blackberries and started buying iPhones and Android phones.

But people are still buying iPhones and Android phones today. A lot of them... actually. That part is key.

It doesn't really matter that Android has 70% market share and Apple only has 20%. Those are just numbers on a chart.

What Apple lacks in market share and unit sales... they certainly make up in profit. And every dime keeps them further from falling into trouble like RIM.

 

[iGrip]

I put "Android" in quotes because it's not really a singular thing. "Android" is made up of hundreds of phones in all shapes and sizes... and price ranges.

That's what they used to say about Windows computers. And the Mac market share stayed in the single digits while all the cool new software was written for PCs.

Those who forget history and all that...

 

[Renzatic]

I wonder if Samsung will make a Windows 8 tablet. That would be sweet. Its the only tablet OS that didn't start as a cellphone OS, and which can run full programs instead of little applets.

You haven't heard about the Ativ tablets yet? They seem pretty alright.

Though to me, the best Win8 tablet all around is still the Surface Pro. If the next generation comes out with a Haswell chip onboard, I'm about 99.9% sure I'll get one.

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

That's what Blackberry said as well...

Yes... Blackberry got destroyed by the iPhone and Android.

In other words... people stopped buying Blackberries and started buying iPhones and Android phones.

But people are still buying iPhones and Android phones today. A lot of them... actually. That part is key.

It doesn't really matter that Android has 70% market share and Apple only has 20%. Those are just numbers on a chart.

What Apple lacks in market share and unit sales... they certainly make up in profit. And every dime keeps them further from falling into trouble like RIM.

Quote from the same article of "RIM takes market cap crown"
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=949d3940-1a97-4d6e-a643-7ab736fc6d7c&k=48131

"“RIM’s on fire,” said Peter Misek, Canaccord Adams’ senior technology analyst. “People are now starting to appreciate now, at this price, just how world-class this techonology is; just what an exceptional team they’ve assembled; just how much leverage they’ll be able to show the market and what they can do.”"

With Market Share loss comes developer loss. How many developers do you think Blackberry has now?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Agree to a point. But the just because a company has 150B doesn't make them invincible.

Apple is obviously doing something right. And like I said... having that much money gives them freedom to buy supplies and manufacturing equipment. And that's important when you need to make 47 million units in a quarter (and sell over 500,000 units a day)

150B might not make them invincible... but it's sure one hell of an advantage!

And last I checked - this thread and stat was about tablets. Not phones.

For years I've been hearing people say "Apple will lose market share in tablets just like they did in smartphones"

Well... that day is here.

My point is... if the iPhone could survive that... I'm betting the iPad will survive too.

It's not a zero-sum game. You don't have to be #1 in market share to remain in business.

And I'd say there's a decent amount of accessories (and growing) for Android phones, tablets, etc. There's developer support. And while Apple is the crowning champ for Customer Satisfaction - that doesn't negate that Android and the manufacturers that make phones/tablets from having any or even very good #s as well.

There is a decent amount of accessories from some Android phones... notably the flagship phones from the major manufacturers.

Now think about the hundreds of Android phones sold in China and India from companies you've never heard of.

It's not a hollow victory - but it's not the ONLY thing that matters either.

Marketshare IS, however, indicative (most likely) of longevity because of investments in an ecosystem. It plays a role at least. But given that both Android and iOS have great marketshare anyway - neither one has to worry. And all of this back and forth about marketshare and profits is (as I have said before) silly. The major players are making money - and unless you're a stockholder in one or the other - these stats are just link baits for forums to have a pissing contest of ridiculousness.

You're right... Android and Apple enjoy over 90% of the market.

I really feel bad for the other guys

----------

That's what they used to say about Windows computers. And the Mac market share stayed in the single digits while all the cool new software was written for PCs.

Those who forget history and all that...

You just said exactly what I was talking about earlier.

"Windows Dominates the Mac in Market Share"

THAT'S A HEADLINE

Can you still buy a Mac today? After 29 years? Do developers still make Mac software?

If the Mac is still around with single-digit market share... I think the iPhone and iPad can survive with double-digit market share.

 

[pirg]

Apple is obviously doing something right. And like I said... having that much money gives them freedom to buy supplies and manufacturing equipment. And that's important when you need to make 47 million units in a quarter (and sell over 500,000 units a day)

150B might not make them invincible... but it's sure one hell of an advantage!

One hell of an advantage.

For years I've been hearing people say "Apple will lose market share in tablets just like they did in smartphones"

Well... that day is here.

My point is... if the iPhone could survive that... I'm betting the iPad will survive too.

It's not a zero-sum game. You don't have to be #1 in market share to remain in business.

You don't have to be #2, #3, or #4 either. Marketshare is good for bragging rights, means very little beyond that.

There is a decent amount of accessories from some Android phones... notably the flagship phones from the major manufacturers.

Now think about the hundreds of Android phones sold in China and India from companies you've never heard of.

They do. Those phones contribute to the marketshare LOL

You're right... Android and Apple enjoy over 90% of the market.

I really feel bad for the other guys

Can't argue with that. It's a duopoly when it comes to OSs
----------

You just said exactly what I was talking about earlier.

"Windows Dominates the Mac in Market Share"

THAT'S A HEADLINE

Can you still buy a Mac today? After 29 years? Do developers still make Mac software?

If the Mac is still around with single-digit market share... I think the iPhone and iPad can survive with double-digit market share.

Sure can. What's Mac? 5%? And Apple is still selling 4 million give or take a qtr? Yeah. They'll be ok.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Quote from the same article of "RIM takes market cap crown"
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=949d3940-1a97-4d6e-a643-7ab736fc6d7c&k=48131

"“RIM’s on fire,” said Peter Misek, Canaccord Adams’ senior technology analyst. “People are now starting to appreciate now, at this price, just how world-class this techonology is; just what an exceptional team they’ve assembled; just how much leverage they’ll be able to show the market and what they can do.”"

With Market Share loss comes developer loss. How many developers do you think Blackberry has now?

Android smartphones have almost 3 times the market share of the iPhone.

Yet developers still love developing for the iPhone.

Why? Because iPhone apps make them money. iPhone users spend money.

It's really sad when Android can have over 70% smartphone market share... but developers go elsewhere...

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

You haven't heard about the Ativ tablets yet? They seem pretty alright.

Though to me, the best Win8 tablet all around is still the Surface Pro. If the next generation comes out with a Haswell chip onboard, I'm about 99.9% sure I'll get one.

To expensive.

My opinion only of course.

----------

Android smartphones have almost 3 times the market share of the iPhone.

Yet developers still love developing for the iPhone.

Why? Because iPhone apps make them money. iPhone users spend money.

It's really sad when Android can have over 70% smartphone market share... but developers go elsewhere...

Look at developer growth for iOS app store and Google Play.

I think you may be wrong...

 

[Renzatic]

To expensive.

My opinion only of course.

What? The Pro or the Ativ? If it's the Pro you're talking about, everything I've seen points towards it being about as solidly built as you can ask for.

As for the price, if you compare it directly to the iPad, you're right. I look at it more like an MBA with a higher resolution screen that I can draw on. For that, $999 ain't half bad.

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

What? The Pro or the Ativ? If it's the Pro you're talking about, everything I've seen points towards it being about as solidly built as you can ask for.

As for the price, if you compare it directly to the iPad, you're right. I look at it more like an MBA with a higher resolution screen that I can draw on. For that, $999 ain't half bad.

Sorry, should have been clearer given that you talked about two products.

Ativ in my opinion is overpriced.

Microsoft Surface RT is overpriced.

Microsoft Surface Pro should sell well in the enterprise market. It's still overpriced given the specs but as far as future potential I think the next generations are going to be great for Microsoft.

 

[iSee]

So what do you say if those Samsung tablet figures include the Samsung made Nexus 10?

The Nexus 7 is made by ASUS. The Nexus 10 is made by Samsung.

Heh, well, I guess I should have been more specific. I was thinking of Samsung's Tab 2 7" tablet vs. the Nexus 7. I haven't even seen a Nexus 10, so I shouldn't comment on it.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Look at developer growth for iOS app store and Google Play.

I think you may be wrong...

You're right... Android will outpace iOS in apps eventually.

The question is... do you think developers will ever stop making apps for iOS and abandon the platform like they did with the Blackberry?

That was kinda the point I was making... since you mentioned Blackberry developers earlier.

I don't think there is a 1:1 relationship between market share and developer support.

Developers lost interest in the Blackberry platform when people stopped buying Blackberries en masse.

But as long as Apple sells 100 million iOS devices a year... developers will stick around

I was a heavy Blackberry user at one point in my life... but I never bought a single app for my Blackberry.

I can't draw a parallel between Blackberry App World and Apple's App Store.

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

You're right... Android will outpace iOS in apps eventually.

The question is... do you think developers will ever stop making apps for iOS and abandon the platform like they did with the Blackberry?

That was kinda the point I was making... since you mentioned Blackberry developers earlier.

I don't think there is a 1:1 relationship between market share and developer support.

Developers lost interest in the Blackberry platform when people stopped buying Blackberries en masse.

But as long as Apple sells 100 million iOS devices a year... developers will stick around

To not develop for iOS at this point as a developer would be throwing away money. I don't think that will happen for many years (if at all).

Then again, I never would have guessed that Blackberry (RIM) would be in the position it's in today. They were the top of the mobile Market and that includes Enterprise which is extremely slow to adopt change in large corporations.

Who saw Google (Android) or Apple being in the position they are today back in 2006? I sure wish I had, my portfolio would look a lot different.

 

[Zwhaler]

I expect cheap Android tablets to outsell them. Because they are cheap.

I expect that too, but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple broke their own sales record this year either

 

[Michael Scrip]

To not develop for iOS at this point as a developer would be throwing away money. I don't think that will happen for many years (if at all).

Then again, I never would have guessed that Blackberry (RIM) would be in the position it's in today. They were the top of the mobile Market and that includes Enterprise which is extremely slow to adopt change in large corporations.

Who saw Google (Android) or Apple being in the position they are today back in 2006? I sure wish I had, my portfolio would look a lot different.

It looks like Symbian was the smartphone leader... and they dropped even more than RIM:

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

It looks like Symbian was the smartphone leader... and they dropped even more than RIM:

Image

Thanks for the chart. I'd forgot about Symbian (even thought most of my early mobile devices likely ran on it).

I didn't remember about the following.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbian
On 22 June 2011 Nokia made an agreement with Accenture for an outsourcing program. Accenture will provide Symbian-based software development and support services to Nokia through 2016; about 2,800 Nokia employees became Accenture employees as of October 2011.[11] The transfer was completed on 30 September 2011.[5] The Nokia 808 PureView was officially the last Symbian smartphone.[12]

It shouldn't surprise me as much as it does but I still know people who don't have smart phones and don't care. I'm only 49 and it still amazes me why (given their income level) they make that choice.