iPad Sales May Decline to Lowest Quarterly Level Since 2011

[TheHateMachine]

Exactly what my work started doing. They were issuing laptops and iPads to the VPs and directors and above. The VPs and directors wanted portability and functionality both devices offered but had to carry 2 devices. Now they started to issue SP4s and monitors and the feedback has been very good so far. The VPs and directors all love having one device they can do presentations on and then dock at their desk when they are done.

We are about ready to move onto Surface Pro 4s but we are running into a problem with the Enterprise edition of Windows 10 and 8 causing the Surface Pro 4 not to go to sleep properly and generating a lot of heat. Combine this with surface sleeves and bags and its causing issues. Our company along with others are working with Microsoft to fix this "hotbagging" issue as they call it. As soon as it is resolved i'm sure we will start deploying SP4s instead.

 

[tampageek]

We are entering the post tablet era.

So much for all the hype about how tablets were going to replace computers.

 

[jlgreen]

We've found our Ipad Air2s very disappointing. Faster, but so what? Shouldn't they be faster than the original ipads we'd had so long? And, no,they don't "just work" with the imac or apple TV. They "sorta" work "some" of the time. We're learning to get along without them. Try up-selling that, Apple. The less we spend, the better we're liking it.

 

[TheRainKing]

Their product line has become cluttered and confusing to casual customers I bet. It use to be just iPhone and iPad. Now it's iPhone, iPhone xC, iPhone xSE, iPhone xPlus, iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Pro.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Everyone has an iPad now, so there's less need to upgrade. I "might" consider getting a new one if they all had touch ID AND could use the pencil AND had force touch. Otherwise the one I have still does what I need it to.

Market saturation? I personally don't update my gadget every year.

I'm on my first and only tablet: my ipad air.

All of this folks. I agree with the three of you. I had an iPad 2, bought on launch day, and didn't upgrade for years and that was to an iPad Mini 1st gen when they went on sale for $199 at Best Buy. Found that the form of it was better for my needs, but barely used it because it was SLOW and only 16GBs. You could say that the cheap iPad Mini 2 was a mistake and that I should've gotten something newer and faster.

Grabbed an iPad Mini 4 about three years or so after that. I've bought LESS iPads and upgrade less frequently than I do with my computers.

Suffice it to say, they are really solid products for those that use them, and upgrading gives little to no benefit at all.

iPad sales will pick-up once Apple updates iOS to add more productivity features utilized by newer models (like Apple did with iOS 9 and split-view).

This too. But then, I'd even say that Apple would do better in sales if they only released it for the iPad Pro and iPad Air X or something.

If they make it an update, then folks would just keep the tablets they have and not upgrade. Most normal people don't know the difference between the Air, Air 2, Air 3, or the Mini, Mini2, Mini3, and Mini4.

 

[AxoNeuron]

The very first iPad back in 2010 had 16GB of storage for the base model.

The iPad Air 2 has a 16GB base model.

Maybe if Apple deigned to catch up to where the REST of the industry has been for a while and actually upgraded the base model to 32GB, people would actually start buying iPads again. With how cheap NAND flash is these days, Apple really has no freaking excuse to keep storage levels on their devices stuck in the year 2010. I mean, seriously Apple, an expensive 'high quality' tablet in the year 2016 with 16GB of storage.....? Wow.

 

[RedOrchestra]

The very first iPad back in 2010 had 16GB of storage for the base model.

The iPad Air 2 has a 16GB base model.

Maybe if Apple deigned to catch up to where the REST of the industry has been for a while and actually upgraded the base model to 32GB, people would actually start buying iPads again. With how cheap NAND flash is these days, Apple really has no freaking excuse to keep storage levels on their devices stuck in the year 2010. I mean, seriously Apple, an expensive 'high quality' tablet in the year 2016 with 16GB of storage.....? Wow.

WHAT, and kill that profit margin when you step-up and purchase the 64GB ... this is Apple after all.

 

[Tech198]

makes sense...we like iPads' but we like iPhones more.

You can't expect any company to be a winner till the end of time do you ? You also can't expects their products they've had year over year (even with improvements) to keep users happy, to stay happy year after year..

At one point we gotta slow down. lack of new features we like to see maybe?

 

[tibas92013]

I bought a iPad Mini2 in October, 2014 at Best Buy and I mainly use it to browse Internet Radio and YouTube. This makes it the most expensive "radio" that I have ever bought but I got to admit it is one great radio experience!

However, I am thinking of buying a IPad Mini 4 when they are made available in the Apple Refurbished On-Line Store sometime this year.

 

[Jamie0003]

I replaced my original iPad mini AND my MacBook Pro with one of the new MacBooks. Couldn't be happier. I miss the power of the pro but honestly don't use it, and I have my gaming PC if I need it.

The iPad pro has great potential, but until it gets features such as USB-C support, being able to hookup to a monitor, hard drives etc, features that I occasionally use on my MacBook, but don't need on the move, I see no reason to get one. It needs to differentiate itself more and go the hybrid OS way that Microsoft has done with the surface tablets.

I also have an iPhone 6 which covers everything else.

I would like for a version of the MacBook with a 14" screen, 2ghz+ processor and perhaps another USB-c port but generally it ticks all the boxes the way it is now and is awesome as a tablet replacement.

To me personally, unless an iPad can completely replace my MacBook, I have no interest in one.

 

[firedept]

It cannot be market saturation, because according to the chart above for every iPad sale, four other tablets are being sold?

But not everyone can afford the iPad. And yes I realize there are many other tablets on the market, which is not helping iPad sales either. For the people that can afford them and the amount being sold over the last few years, the market has to be saturated. The iPhone will eventually catch up as well. Not as much as the iPad, but none the less, it will happen.

People are using them much longer and the economy is not allowing people to spend for that upgrade as often as they use too. Plus the fact that Apple has significantly raised the price in foreign countries to accommodate the value of the dollar. That can not be helping either. Plus the fact that they do not make a good every day device for a lot of people.

My point was more that I would like to see Apple lower the price or make it a more powerful device for the money. But I could never see Apple doing that. There are many things to factor in at the end of the day though and I do not see the glory days of the iPad coming back anytime soon. At least right now anyways.

I did appreciate your comment though. Thanks!

 

[Surfheart]

I work at a an Australian University and round about the iPad 2 and beyond EVERYONE was getting an iPad, it was the "IT" device, the cool thing to have. Now, it's all about the Surface.

 

[Altis]

The iPad is far too limited, in my opinion, and hasn't really changed that much. It's reached the point where it's the best version of itself but it's still so limited.

I think the iPad would do much better if it had some of the following features:
Multiple user accounts; USB ports for printers, mouse, keyboards, mass storage; an accessible file system; monitor output/dockable; Apple Pencil compatible (stylus); much better multitasking support (such as playing the audio of YouTube in the background) and full split-screen support.

The OS kind of cripples the experience as it's extremely linear. Even going back and forth between apps can cause a refresh that can make you lose your place/info, use more battery/data, cause long delays. The current multitasking is better than nothing but still awfully cumbersome to work with and very limited.

The iPad is certainly powerful enough to act as far more than it is, but they've kept it so limited. I think there's still a market for it, but very little reason for anyone to upgrade at this point since the new ones can't really do anything more than the old ones (even as far back as iPad 2).

 

[Soccertess]

without a file system, Ipads are just cool media pads. For most people, it isn't a productivity tool!

 

[Count Blah]

I think Apple tried that with the iPad Pro......but i don't think the sales have been what they expected.
You have to admire what MS did with the Surface lineup. It took them a couple versions to get it right but the SP4 is a great device.

The iPad Pro is still run an iPod Touch OS. While Microsoft is running a full blown OS. No wonder I am hearing more people talk up SP4, than I hear people talk up IPP.

 

[Jamie0003]

The iPad is far too limited, in my opinion, and hasn't really changed that much. It's reached the point where it's the best version of itself but it's still so limited.

I think the iPad would do much better if it had some of the following features:
Multiple user accounts; USB ports for printers, mouse, keyboards, mass storage; an accessible file system; monitor output/dockable; Apple Pencil compatible (stylus); much better multitasking support (such as playing the audio of YouTube in the background) and full split-screen support.

The OS kind of cripples the experience as it's extremely linear. Even going back and forth between apps can cause a refresh that can make you lose your place/info, use more battery/data, cause long delays. The current multitasking is better than nothing but still awfully cumbersome to work with and very limited.

The iPad is certainly powerful enough to act as far more than it is, but they've kept it so limited. I think there's still a market for it, but very little reason for anyone to upgrade at this point since the new ones can't really do anything more than the old ones (even as far back as iPad 2).

This is exactly my feeling. Why does the iPad pro exist in the first place with all this limited functionality? Why would you buy one as opposed to the iPad Air? Unless you're an artist it has nothing to offer that you can't get out of other devices or the normal iPad.

 

[teslo]

then they should stop making them so damn well. i'm on my iPad 2 for 5+ years now and it's still one of my favorite possessions. draft beats and music, email a few people and then flip on some netflix/HBO? i'd have paid $10K for something like this in the early 2000s. and having stayed on ios7, i'm only just now starting to notice stutters and pauses. even the battery life is still humming: 6-7 hrs minimum, sometimes a couple days. even if i upgrade soon i'll still use my 2 until it won't turn on anymore.

 

[RedOrchestra]

I think the iPad would do much better if it had some of the following features: multiple user accounts...

Well, you can have multiple user accounts your iPad just not all signed in at the same time AND all downloads are mashed together to form one large family of books, music, etc. Having said that, you're no longer able to sync your iPad with a desktop or laptop because those are single accounts only and once you start syncing the desktop asks you to choose your account and then it unceremoniously erases all the other account's purchases. Don't know how multiple accounts work with iCloud because I don't use the cloud.

 

[Altis]

Well, you can have multiple user accounts your iPad just not all signed in at the same time AND all downloads are mashed together to form one large family of books, music, etc. Having said that, you're no longer able to sync your iPad with a desktop or laptop because those are single accounts only and once you start syncing the desktop asks you to choose your account and then it unceremoniously erases all the other account's purchases. Don't know how multiple accounts work with iCloud because I don't use the cloud.

Sounds like a mess. Simple accounts like we've had on computers for ages now would do perfectly fine. It couldn't be that difficult to implement, so I suspect it's more that Apple ultimately wants every user to buy their own device.

 

[M. Gustave]

without a file system, Ipads are just cool media pads. For most people, it isn't a productivity tool!

Please don't speak for "most people". Even in its current "limited" iOS 9 state, my iPad Air is used for writing, calendar/time management, creating spreadsheets, note taking, and photo editing. It runs MS Office. It seemlessly connects to my Bluetooth keyboards, and cameras.

The "iPad is a media consumption device/toy" trope is so old, tired, and misinformed.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Sounds like a mess. Simple accounts like we've had on computers for ages now would do perfectly fine. It couldn't be that difficult to implement, so I suspect it's more that Apple ultimately wants every user to buy their own device.

I guess we've been doing it for so long now we don't even think about it. I should backtrack a bit - everyone can set up their own playlists and book collections to separate their own stuff from the pack - it works for us.

 

[VARTV]

We're upgrading... We are going to sell our Air 2 (Gazelle) plus get a $250 credit from VZW (I increased our Internet package and received an offer to add a tablet for the $250 credit by March 31). The $480 will soften the blow for our new Air 3 (64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular)...

 

[tibas92013]

then they should stop making them so damn well. i'm on my iPad 2 for 5+ years now and it's still one of my favorite possessions. draft beats and music, email a few people and then flip on some netflix/HBO? i'd have paid $10K for something like this in the early 2000s. and having stayed on ios7, i'm only just now starting to notice stutters and pauses. even the battery life is still humming: 6-7 hrs minimum, sometimes a couple days. even if i upgrade soon i'll still use my 2 until it won't turn on anymore.

I bought my first 16GB IPad2 in the year 2011 and in the year 2013 I went to the Apple Store to trade this one in (because of battery issues) for a Refurbished IPad2 for around $100.00 and which still works great to this day on IOS7.

 

[Ladybug]

I feel like the iPad has become stale. Its just marginally better than the first one. The hardware is faster, and its thinner and lighter however iOS is holding it back. The iPad needs more functionality at this point but Apple has chosen to keep it the same year after year. I bought an iPad Air 2 in Oct but that was only because my old iPad 3 bit the dust. I don't anticipate upgrading to a newer model for a long time just so I can save .2 seconds opening my apps. While I still use and enjoy my iPad, I feel they need to improve it somehow. I considered buying a Microsoft Surface but changed my mind at the last minute. Apple needs to make it worth my while if they want me to upgrade.

 

[dampfnudel]

We are entering the post tablet era.

I think the best thing we can say about tablets is that they were more successful than netbooks, but that's not saying much. The iPhone seems to be on a similar path at the moment and that's why some people hear late night "motor noises" coming from an Apple-leased campus. Apple knows now is the time to spread their eggs to other baskets before the same thing happens to the iPhone. I know some people out there believe that will never happen, but we all know or should know that reality has this nasty habit of intruding into our fantasy worlds.