iPad Continues to Lead Declining Tablet Market in First Quarter

[0815]

I believe it's a mix of bigger phones and smaller/lighter notebooks.

You've got encroachment on one side from devices with better portability (i.e., pocketable) yet still very usable, the ability to make [cell] calls, a better camera - and on the other side full featured OS on a device that's barely less portable than a tablet with equivalent battery life and a real keyboard (if a keyboard is factored into a tablet there's trivial portability difference).

Plus now, the iPhone is the Watch symbiotic device, again cutting the tablet out of a whole market segment.

Yes, since I have the 6+, I am not using my iPad mini as much as I used to do. There is a handful apps that are iPad only, but most other stuff I do now on the 6+ and I take the mini (which is still very portable) not to as many places anymore since I always have the 6+ with me.

 

[DaveMcM76]

I've owned 3 iPads - a 2, 3 and now Air 2. The iPad 2 went to my sister when the 3 came out - couldn't get over the lack of retina once I'd got my iPhone4 - and now I've updated to my Air 2 my sister has my 3 and the 2 is still going strong with one of her friends. My mum has an original iPad mini and is showing no signs of wanting to update it as it still works perfectly for her needs.

I think the compulsion to upgrade tablets just isn't there like it is with phones unless you are somebody who absolutely has to have the latest thing. Phones have an inbuilt reminder of how long you've had them with the associated cellular contract expiry every X years prompting you to think about upgrading where tablets just keep soldiering on...

 

[jayducharme]

I wonder how much of the market share for Lenovo is made up of real tablets and not Windows 8.1 PCs in tablet form.

And I wonder what effect (if any) Windows 10 will have on the market. If MS can truly deliver the same OS across multiple platforms, that might become a very attractive ecosystem.

 

[TEBnewyork]

From everyone I know, iPad is a definitely longer upgrade cycle than their phone. Older iPads tend to hang around the house in the hands of kids etc.

On the flip side there are so many uses for iPads commercially that are just beginning to get tapped. At my doctors office you check in via iPad that is mounted.
iPads in retail as the register
There are so many different ways for its use to grow.

Funny thing is: in this "decline" iPads are still a huge business by any standards.

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I think the compulsion to upgrade tablets just isn't there like it is with phones unless you are somebody who absolutely has to have the latest thing. Phones have an inbuilt reminder of how long you've had them with contract expiry every X years prompting you to think about upgrading where tablets just keep soldiering on...

In the US under the traditional subsidies, there is not much incentive to hold on to a phone past contract expiry.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

I refuse to believe this is anything other than tablets don't get replaced very often. From what I've seen in just daily observations, people use their tablets like crazy. I see mostly iPads, but also Kindle Fires, e reader Kindles, and even a few Android tablets ALL OVER THE PLACE.

The last time we went out to Red Robin for dinner, I saw at least three families with iPads. Is it obnoxious to bring a tablet to dinner? Yes. But people do love these things, and use them all the time.

I don't think this declining sales story necessarily paints the whole picture. However, I will admit that ever since getting my iPhone 6, my iPad usage has declined.

From everyone I know, iPad is a definitely longer upgrade cycle than their phone. Older iPads tend to hang around the house in the hands of kids etc.

On the flip side there are so many uses for iPads commercially that are just beginning to get tapped. At my doctors office you check in via iPad that is mounted.
iPads in retail as the register
There are so many different ways for its use to grow.

Funny thing is: in this "decline" iPads are still a huge business by any standards.

Both of you make a good point about consumers not upgrading their tablets as often as they would an iPhone or other device. I've updated the article to mention that as another contributing factor to declining iPad sales.

 

[davidwes]

If I was going to have a tablet, I would have an iPad. I've had three, but replaced them with an MacBook Air 11". It does everything the iPad can't and I use it all the same places.

I got over the non-retina in about a week.

I can't agree with this.

1. Reading on my mac vs in bed on my iPad is a completely different experience. I much, much prefer using my iPad.

2. During Lunch breaks, its so much easier to read on my iPad as opposed to my computer.

3. GAMES! The range of games on iPad far surpass that on my mac.

4. Walking and working. When I took a tour of a building we were thinking of renting, it was much easier to use my iPad to see my notes/questions, pull up the floor plan, take pictures of the space, etc.

For non-business work, I use my iPad about 90% of the time compared to my Macbook Air.

That said, I'm still on iPad 2!!!! Nothing has made me upgrade yet.

 

[davey0]

I'm thinking about replacing my iPad3 with a new model this year, but the thought of having a full blown computer for about the same price has me reconsidering. A couple of my friends are thinking the same way. Perhaps Apple needs to lower their prices.

 

[jazz1]

I've pretty much upgraded to several iPads and handed my old ones down to family and friends. Even the incremental upgrades seemed worth it to me. But I'm a fanboy

The thing is that now that I have the 2015 12" Macbook I am thinking I'll be turning my upgradeitis toward this new line of Apple laptops. iPad upgrade purchases by me will probably be every other year. Who know maybe Apple will come up with some "can't live without" new iPad feature and I'll eat my words.

I still love my iPad, but up against the 12" Macbook it seems even more suited to be relegated to surfing and watching movies. Yes, I've tried keyboard cases for my iPads and never they really worked well for me. I guess the telling thing is the 12" Macbook now accompanies me to all of my meetings at work, and the iPad is more of an after work hour device.

I don't think Apple cares about this kind of shift in my buying habits. They get my money either way

 

[Asclepio]

ipad=Ipod touch

 

[Phil A.]

Not surprising, I didn't replace my perfectly working iPad 2 for four years. Currently enjoying my iPad Air 2 and plan on upgrading in the future.

That's the path I took too - kept my iPad 2 for far longer than I would a phone and only got rid of it when I upgraded to the Air 2.

 

[Razeus]

I plan on using my iPad Air 2 for at least 3 years. The stuff I use it for isn't all that demanding (streaming social, social media, writing, reading). The iPad Air 2 is perfect and I feel Apple finally got it right. Hopefully iOS 9 will make better use of the screen, but Apple seems convince their apps make great use of the screen, compared to Android (as they always seem to mention in their Keynotes).

 

[D.T.]

Yes, since I have the 6+, I am not using my iPad mini as much as I used to do. There is a handful apps that are iPad only, but most other stuff I do now on the 6+ and I take the mini (which is still very portable) not to as many places anymore since I always have the 6+ with me.

Yeah, I've heard the same from several people I know (not even all Apple users, the same for a phone like a Note vs. a 9" or larger non-Apple tablet).

Definitely falls into my use case: it's either the device I always have with me (phone), or the device that allows for the best productivity while maintaining portability (notebook).

Sure, I occasionally use the iPad around the homestead, usually for reading ebooks, but it's not really my "go to" device for much of anything else (99% of the time, it's used by my little G).

 

[EightyTwenty]

This is the first thing I thought about when I read the article title. These devices just last. I primarily use mine for internet surfing and it's going to powerful and relevant enough for a long time.

LOTS of products "just last", but you don't see 25% declines quarter after quarter.

The tablet market is cratering. There's no two ways around that.

 

[Iconoclysm]

You need a keyboard and you need a good way to shuttle files between programs. If you're going to do actual work.

iOS is built to be idiot-proof and malware-proof, but unfortunately that makes it pretty work-proof for a lot of purposes.

Pretty sure you don't need to shuffle files between programs to do virtually anything out there that people consider "actual work".

 

[ctdonath]

iPad Air 1 and have not even thought about an upgrade. The iOS will cripple the machine well before hardware does.

Likewise: iPad 4 is holding up just fine for software use. Only reason I consider upgrading is size & weight vs Air 2.

 

[gnasher729]

There are all kinds of contributing factors we can point to for this, but I think the real elephant in the room that no one wants to admit is that most people still prefer to use a Mac.

For some the iPad is indispensable. But for most the iPad is novel and not really necessary.

The problem with that assumption is that Apple still sells 2.5 times more iPads than Macs.

 

[Iconoclysm]

LOTS of products "just last", but you don't see 25% declines quarter after quarter.

The tablet market is cratering. There's no two ways around that.

It's saturated, there's no real need to constantly upgrade. It will stabilize and be consistent at some point.

 

[JackieInCo]

For me, there was no reason to upgrade my 1st generation Mini Retina to the latest Mini Retina or Air. Unless they do something major next fall, I can see myself continuing to use my Mini another year or two.

 

[redhowe]

Erm... market saturation anyone?

As spiderman points out

I refuse to believe this is anything other than tablets don't get replaced very often.

I appreciate that Apple is in the unfortunate position of having to make shareholders happy but they need to be congratulated on creating devices with exceptional lifespans (in the world of technology that is), therefore contributing further to their (potentially exaggerated) environmental credentials.

I had the first iPad and now an iPad Mini (selling the iPad to someone who is likely still using it). We have a couple of iPhone 4 and 5/5S as well as an MBP (late 2010) and a Mac Mini (2009). All get used almost daily and with little frustration (thanks to stalls/slowdown, etc.) Well done Apple tech as only my Synology DS and my Suunto watch have survived like these have.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Aluminum213]

It's saturated, there's no real need to constantly upgrade. It will stabilize and be consistent at some point.

This, numbers going down doesn't mean the tablet business is dead, it means everyone has one

I see iPad's everywhere, subway, buses, coffee shops, airports.... but the problem is lot of them are iPad 2, Apple gave little reason for anyone to update

 

[adammull]

I can't agree with this.

1. Reading on my mac vs in bed on my iPad is a completely different experience. I much, much prefer using my iPad.

2. During Lunch breaks, its so much easier to read on my iPad as opposed to my computer.

3. GAMES! The range of games on iPad far surpass that on my mac.

4. Walking and working. When I took a tour of a building we were thinking of renting, it was much easier to use my iPad to see my notes/questions, pull up the floor plan, take pictures of the space, etc.

For non-business work, I use my iPad about 90% of the time compared to my Macbook Air.

That said, I'm still on iPad 2!!!! Nothing has made me upgrade yet.

1. I read real books, I didn't like reading on the iPad. But I can see your point.

2. The small Air goes everywhere, lap, etc. I don't see that its hard to use at all.

3. I don't play games and the ones I do are on my phone.

4. This I agree with. iPad for construction is key but that's literally all I use it for. I cannot stand typing on the thing. Just ordering something online is a PITA because inevitably some site won't populate the autofill right. It's a pain.

Again, I had 3 iPads. Thought they were awesome at the time. But the Macbook Air has become the center of my life now, and I use it everywhere. My iPad Mini 2 is in a drawer.

 

[Havok83]

I have an iPad Air and was almost tempted in upgrading last year but there wasnt any signficant improvements to the Air 2 and honestly, 6 months later, I dont feel Ive missed anything as the Air is doing just fine for me. Hopefully, Apple does improve it this year bc I would upgrade, primarily for the increase in space (I have 32gb and would love at least 64gb)

 

[i.mac]

North America only... nobody cares

Because you do not care, you had to write the post...

 

[639051]

I own the Air 2 and I just cannot imagine upgrading it for at least another year. The triple core CPU and extra memory from last year really sped it up to the point where I just cannot imagine anything they will do which will slow it down anytime soon.

I agree with others here that they really need to provide some good upgrades to iOS specific to the iPad, it needs to be a bit more robust.