Worldwide Tablet Growth Expected to Slow to 7.2% in 2014 as iPad Sees First Yearly Decline

[tdale]

Meanwhile Samsung are slaughtering Apple in display quality.

I will assume this is an undisputed fact, for the sake of discussion.

However, iareSamsungs displays awesome and Apples is poor, or is Samsungs awesome, and Apple really really good, but a bit less then awesome?

If the latter, people generally do not know or care. They buy on price. Some buy on OS, some try to get the best combo of price, screen size, storage for their budget. Consumers are not like us on this forum

 

[MrXiro]

I keep buying iPads and my current set up is exactly how I love it.

Mac Pro as my desktop and work horse. I surf, edit videos, photos, work on my website. Also the center of my media hub. All my videos and Music are served through here via Spotify, Plex or iTunes.

iPad Air 2 is my Couch/Bed/Bathroom surfer and for games. Also it's my TV away from the TV as I use it to watch USA, Travel Channel and various programs on it.

iPhone 6 - on the road reading, fitness step tracker and music/podcast player. It's the device I use the most.

But the way I have things set up is perfect for my use. The only iPad I skipped buying is the iPad 4 and now the iPad Mini 3, since it wasn't really an upgrade. I sell all my old iPads or shift them to others in my family.

 

[tdale]

Could the Phablet have anything to do with it by chance?

Yes, but very very little. On another forum some are replacing their mini with their 6 Plus, but more often they find the 6 Plus works great as a mini mini iPad ON THE RUN, but when they typically use the iPad Mini, they find the plus too small. Remember, the 6 Plus has just 45% screen real estate of the Mini.

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It's inevitable. The market gets saturated and hits a plateau. Same thing happened to desktop/laptop computers which prompted many to declare that tablets had killed them and the post-PC era had begun. Even "experts" are remarkably shortsighted.

I agree. The "experts" are more likely to be journo's creating a story

 

[2457282]

I had the iPad 3 and just upgrade to the iPad air 2 (terrible name). The iPad is a huge improvement in terms of speed and weight. And I use it for almost everything instead of my iMac except for some of the more complicated tasks or when screen size is important. Mostly that is picture/video editing. I also manage my music collection on the iMac (beatunes).

I use a Kensington keyboard cover so it feels like a mini laptop. For e-mails and posting on MR, I can use the iPad. When I have to do more serious editing where I need to have multiple windows up so I can cut and paste, well the iPad simply doesn’t do that. If Apple ever frees the iPad to support multi windows, then the iPad would become even more of a replacement for the laptop/desktop.

However, the reality is that the screen will always be too small for some tasks (even if they come out with the maxi pad, err… I mean iPad pro). For picture/video editing and other graphic work, having a large screen is still very important.

 

[Aluminum213]

ZERO software innovation from Apple for 3-4 years, what does apple expect?

I have an iPad Air 2 and it is a beautiful and powerful piece of hardware but it has zero software functionality over an iPad 2, that's why sales will keep dropping

 

[tdale]

ZERO software innovation from Apple for 3-4 years, what does apple expect?

I have an iPad Air 2 and it is a beautiful and powerful piece of hardware but it has zero software functionality over an iPad 2, that's why sales will keep dropping

So Continuity and Handoff mean nothing? Many more sharing options? iCloud Drive? Third party keyboards.

What do you want to be in iOS that makes it innovative, if the above stuff isn't?

IMO Apple has been freeing up the locked down iOS, and this is adding value to it. I am sure there is more to come

 

[JamesMike]

You can't expect Apple sales to keep going up forever. They have to decline at some point.

They have to tread water until the young people grow up and get jobs so they can afford Apple products.

 

[Urban Joe]

This is only normal. Ongoing hyper growth isn't natural.

 

[tdale]

This is only normal. Ongoing hyper growth isn't natural.

It is natural, and once everyone who wants a tablet, has one, you get saturation, then sales will be made up of infrequent upgrades, kids joining workforce, and a few late comers.

 

[koulmj]

It is natural, and once everyone who wants a tablet, has one, you get saturation, then sales will be made up of infrequent upgrades, kids joining workforce, and a few late comers.

Well said. Soon someone will make another advancement in ipad or tablet tech. And we'll have booming sales for a bit.

 

[Hakone]

My iPad 2 still works like a champ.

My Retina (4?), unfortunately, got lobbed by my son and is shattered.

 

[TMRJIJ]

On the lighter side. My iPad 2 works fine

 

[tentales]

I have an iPad Air, which is a terrific device, but my usage is moving in the other direction lately. After having the original iPad and then an iPad 3, and now the Air slowly replace some of my iMac and MacBook usage, I now find myself using my MacBook Air (2011) and iPhone 6 Plus more and the iPads less and less.

Nowadays, I'm actually more excited about new MacBooks than I am new iPads. Basically a MacBook Air is about as portable as an iPad Air, while being so much more capable in many ways, and not much more expensive. And my 2011 MBA is still going strong while my 2012 iPad 3 feels obsolete and slow. The newer MacBook Airs actually have battery life that meets or surpasses iPads and when the MBA gains a retina screen, that will be one less reason for me to prefer the iPad.

Funny you should say that. Exactly my experience over the past few years.
In fact, I had sold my 2010 MBA for an iPad & Mac Mini, thinking the MM will be good at home and the iPad on the road, but I discovered, that I waste too much time with the iPad and avoid doing serious work on it until I'm home on my Mac.
So guess what, I got rid of the iPad and bought a 2014 MBA instead.

iOS 7 redesign was a shock I got over, but iOS 8 and the forced upgrades are too much of a straight jacket for me. At least on the MBA I can open up Terminal and get "under the hood" of the beast.

Not with you on the 6plus though. I like my 4" iPhone

 

[RedOrchestra]

No one should find this surprising. I have a 3 and I can't foresee when I need to upgrade ... I use it for travel (just back from 5 weeks in Europe)... surf, mail, books, movies, Skype, travel info ... it's going to be awhile before I need an upgrade

 

[tentales]

Well said. Soon someone will make another advancement in ipad or tablet tech. And we'll have booming sales for a bit.

"Someone" ? We've had the tablet thing before Apple came out with the iPad and what a failure it was. It's the eco system that made it successful. I like the screen of the Galaxy Tab S, but what a mess Android is... no thanks.

I recently got rid of my iPad Air in favour of an MBA I can get serious work done on and play around with. It's plenty light and if and when Apple introduces a hybrid tablet/macbook, then I'll buy the 2nd iteration the year after.

 

[tentales]

So Continuity and Handoff mean nothing? Many more sharing options? iCloud Drive? Third party keyboards.

What do you want to be in iOS that makes it innovative, if the above stuff isn't?

IMO Apple has been freeing up the locked down iOS, and this is adding value to it. I am sure there is more to come

You've got to be kidding, right ?
freeing up? the opposite is happening.
iCloud Drive? oh puhhleaze! have a look at OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.. nearly everyone else is better & cheaper
Convolution & Handjob ? haven't you seen the many threads about problems, never mind the "deep organizational issues" Apple currently has ?

Feature creep without enhancing the overall experience, while breaking things that worked smoothly before, like bluetooth audio.
I'm so done with the latest iPads and iOS8.

 

[JackieInCo]

"Someone" ? We've had the tablet thing before Apple came out with the iPad and what a failure it was. It's the eco system that made it successful. I like the screen of the Galaxy Tab S, but what a mess Android is... no thanks.

I recently got rid of my iPad Air in favour of an MBA I can get serious work done on and play around with. It's plenty light and if and when Apple introduces a hybrid tablet/macbook, then I'll buy the 2nd iteration the year after.

You haven't tried Android lately have you? It's getting pretty darned good.

The last few months, I wanted to buy either the newest iPad or an Android tablet. What stopped me is that the iPad isn't a full computer and neither are any of the Android tablets. All of them are too limiting on what you can do on them.

I wanted to get a MBA because of OSX and was close to buying one. I saw the Galaxy Note Pro 12 and almost decided to buy it.

Then I saw the Microsoft Surface pro 3 and knew that was the one. It's portable and has the detachable keyboard, 12 inch screen and I can install everything from iTunes, Office and has an SSD and brilliant display.

I haven't touched my iPad in two days since buying my Surface Pro.

If Apple comes out with the rumored iPad Pro and can do all the same things as a computer can, I'll take a look. Till then, I am done with iPads. I spent $900 on my 128GB iPad Retina Mini and for just $100 more, got a real computer with a backlit keyboard and I can install whatever I want on it.

 

[tdale]

You've got to be kidding, right ?
freeing up? the opposite is happening.
iCloud Drive? oh puhhleaze! have a look at OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.. nearly everyone else is better & cheaper
Convolution & Handjob ? haven't you seen the many threads about problems, never mind the "deep organizational issues" Apple currently has ?

Feature creep without enhancing the overall experience, while breaking things that worked smoothly before, like bluetooth audio.
I'm so done with the latest iPads and iOS8.

Your attitude explains your post. Thats sorted.

iCloud Drive is new, so it doesn't work? Its hopeless?. Its new, wait and see.
Convolution and Handjob, LOL. They work 100% for me always, on my 5S, iPad Air and rMBP. Set it and forget it. Ive not noticed any issues on my daily jaunts to MR, like everything some users will have issues, Ive not seen any regular postings myself
Yep, some things have gone amiss, that never happens to Windows or Android though.....

If your over iPads and iOS, you need to move to an appropriate forum, I dunno why some people have need to rant in forums that are of no interest to them, other than to complain

 

[lincolntran]

1. There only so many times you can keep making a tablet thin before people catch on to what you're doing. Apple ran out of ideas. It's the same make it faster, thinner and add a non essential feature to the tablet experience.

2. Phablets including the iPhone 6 plus are more popular than tablets.

3. Apple keeps the iPad updated. No reason to drop another $500.

4. The asking price for the 16GB 9.7" iPad is still $500.

5. The tablet is not a replacement for a computer.

6. People just don't need a tablet.

7. The market is over saturated. People that want a iPad already have an iPad.

1. Ipad needs to be as thin as possible. It's good thing if we can hold the ipad air with one hand without getting tired. Thinness is needed on large devices so that it can be lighter and lighter is always better on large devices. You sound like Apple competitors are making better tablets. They are Not.

2. 16gb ipad air can be grabed for around $300, not 500.

3. Tablet doesn't need to be a laptop replacement, just complement one is good enough for the market.

4. Not everyone needs a tablet but a great majority need it. This is why ipad is wildly popular.

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Your attitude explains your post. Thats sorted.

iCloud Drive is new, so it doesn't work? Its hopeless?. Its new, wait and see.
Convolution and Handjob, LOL. They work 100% for me always, on my 5S, iPad Air and rMBP. Set it and forget it. Ive not noticed any issues on my daily jaunts to MR, like everything some users will have issues, Ive not seen any regular postings myself
Yep, some things have gone amiss, that never happens to Windows or Android though.....

If your over iPads and iOS, you need to move to an appropriate forum, I dunno why some people have need to rant in forums that are of no interest to them, other than to complain

People need to complain to feel better about the mistakes they made or envy.

 

[69Mustang]

But still manage record profits!

Did you post your quote to the wrong thread? Or is this a case of "hey look over there"?

 

[Ulisescm]

I think people that already have one dont need to update every year

 

[RebornProphet]

There's too many iPads out now. If you weren't keeping up with the releases you would never know. mini 2, mini 3, mini retina 3, air 2 it's too much.

And there's no difference between them. The air 2 is closer to what the original air should've been. The original air never had to happen

This comment comes up from people who like to throw buzz terms around like they're in "the know".

The Air was exactly what the Air was meant to be. Thinner, lighter, smaller and twice the speed of the previous generation (backed up by Geekbench).

The Air 2 was again exactly what it was meant to be. Touch ID was always going to be held back for another year on iPad as the demand for sensors was focused on the then new iPhone 5s.

This is Apple, adding little by little each year and people throw around "the such-and-such is what such-and-such should have been" like some wannabe analyst.

Apple want to make money, if they'd put Touch ID and 2GB of RAM in the Air then the Air 2 would have been pointless. The SKU product line is planned way in advance, nothing is what something else was supposed to be.

 

[Sandstorm]

I'm patiently waiting for my iPad Pro.
Biggest thing on wish list - high precision stylus...

EDIT - and the bloody MUTE SWITCH back!!!

 

[Jimmy James]

The rate of growth slowed. There's still growth beyond the incredible number of units sold last year.

 

[Deelron]

Exactly right. I don't know why threads and articles like this have to happen, its obvious.

1. Smartphones have a carrier subsidy so anyone with little or no cash can buy one, iPads are just as expensive, but you have to buy one, as in pay for it.

Just to add, you can pay for tablets (in the US anyway, I have no idea elsewhere) on a monthly, 0% interest plan ($0 down for the 16GB model, varies by carrier for the higher models) from a wireless carrier if you're getting a cellular model and service, which makes it very similar to a smartphone (and if you're getting data and don't have it connected to another plan, it works out as cheaper then a single iPhone).