Samsung and Apple are still the leading tablet vendors by shipments in Q1 2014, according to preliminary data from research firm IDC (International Data Corporation). The worldwide tablet market grew just 3.9% year-over-year in Q1 2014, with shipments of 50.4 million units in the quarter, down 35.7% compared to last quarter. Yesterday IDC reported worldwide smartphone shipments that was down just 2.8% compared to the holiday quarter.
This data includes both tablets and 2-in-1 tablets such as hybrids. According to the table, Apple still leads with 16.4 million shipments with 32.5% market share, but the share is down 16.1% YoY. Samsung has posted 32% YoY growth and has 22.3% market share. Samsung has also posted a slight growth in the market share, compared to 18.8% in the previous quarter. Samsung would start selling the Tab 4 series in this quarter that would improve its market share.
Asus has almost similar market share compared to the previous quarter and Lenovo’s share is down to 4.1%, compared to 4.4% in Q4 2013. The company has managed to ship just 2.1 million tablets and 2-in-1 tablets in the quarter, but has posted tremendous growth compared to Q1 2013.
Amazon is down to the fifth place in the tablet with just 1.9% market share. It has managed to ship just 1 million tablets in the quarter. It has 7.6% share in the previous quarter. Competition in the tablet space could be one of the main reasons for the decrease in market share.
Regarding the slow quarter, Tom Mainelli, IDC Program Vice President, Devices and Displays, said
The rise of large-screen phones and consumers who are holding on to their existing tablets for ever longer periods of time were both contributing factors to a weaker-than-anticipated quarter for tablets and 2-in-1s.In addition, commercial growth has not been robust enough to offset the slowing of consumer shipments.