The tablet market showed signs of recovery in the third quarter of 2023, with a growth of 8% on a monthly basis of global shipments, which reached 33 million units. However, compared to the same period last year, shipments fell 7%, due to component shortages and competition from PCs and smartphones.
Global tablet shipments increase by 8%, Xiaomi and Huawei among the best
According to data released by Canalys, an industry analysis company, smartphone manufacturers are establishing themselves in the tablet market, especially the Chinese ones that focus on innovation and value for money. Between these, Xiaomi entered the top five for the first time, with annual growth of 119,7% of its tablet shipments, which have reached 1,6 million units. Huawei also recorded a good performance, with annual growth of 28,2% and 2,4 million units shipped.
Apple maintained its leadership, with 12,5 million iPads shipped in the quarter, accounting for 38% of market share. Samsung placed second, with 6,2 million units, down 6% from the previous year. Lenovo completed the podium, with 2,6 million units, up 4%.
Himani Mukka, head of research at Canalys, commented: “With inventories leveling off, tablet shipments are gradually increasing on a monthly basis, which is a good sign for the upcoming holiday season, where tablets are expected to discounts and new product launches push the market back on the growth trajectory and achieve annual growth.”
According to Canalys, consumers are showing a greater preference for high-end devices with large screens, in response to changes in productivity and content consumption needs. Additionally, tablet manufacturers must prioritize integrating generative AI into their devices to maintain a competitive advantage.
Leading manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have said they want to integrate AI experiences into their hardware portfolios. As PCs and smartphones have made great strides in artificial intelligence, manufacturers need to ensure their tablets keep pace, to deliver a consistent user experience and ensure interoperability across device ecosystems.
