Samsung has shipped – not sold – over 2 million Galaxy Tabs

By Geoff Duncan February 1, 2011

Samsung Galaxy Tab — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Back in October all eyes were on Samsung’s Android-powered Galaxy Tab as a potential iPad killer, and the company giddily announced it had sold more than 600,000 units in the first few weeks of availability, then over a million units, and now the company says more than two million Galaxy Tabs have gone out the door. However, during the company’s quarter earnings call with investors, a Samsung executive let slip a crucial distinction: those numbers represent the number of Galaxy Tabs Samsung has shipped to wireless operators and retailers around the world, rather than the number of units that have actually been sold to consumers.

During the results call, Samsung’s Lee Young-hee distinguished between sell-out—the number of units a manufacturers sells to retail partners—and sell-in—the number of units actually sold to consumers. In evaluating the market potential of a product, sell-out is an interesting number: it indicates how much interest retailers have in selling the product to consumers. However, actual sales to consumers are critical in evaluating the market success of a device. A manufacturer can ship 10 million items to suppliers, but if 9.9 million of those are returned, remainders, landfilled, or destroyed, the product can hardly be described as a success.

Several technology companies have repeatedly been guilty of blurring the distinction between the two figures; a recent example is Microsoft, which recently trumpeted it had sold 2 million Windows Phone 7 devices, only to have to have those numbers undercut by partners saying sales haven’t met expectations.

Samsung characterized retail sales of the Galaxy Pad as “quite OK,” although the company admits sales to consumers haven’t been “as fast as we expected.” The company has not offered any numbers for how many Galaxy Tab units have been sold to consumers.

Numerous technology companies decline to report numbers of products sold to consumers. A leading example is Amazon, which has never been specific about Kindle sales, only recently saying “millions” of the devices have been sold.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 with a free S Pen is down to $199

A render of the front of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2024.

There are tablet deals that slash the prices of devices that are designed to meet the requirements of creative professionals, but you can also take advantage of offers for tablets that are designed for simpler purposes. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a great example of the latter, and it's on sale from Walmart with a $150 discount that pulls its price down to a very affordable $199 from $349. It's not going to stay this cheap for long though, so if you're interested in this bargain you're going to have to complete your purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) is now available, but the 2022 release of the tablet, which is the one that's discounted on Walmart, remains a worthwhile purchase today as long as you manage your expectations. It's not going to challenge the best tablets in terms of performance as it only offers 4GB of RAM, but it's going to be more than enough for daily activities such as browsing the internet, catching up on social media, and watching streaming shows. The tablet only comes with 64GB of storage, but you can use a microSD card for up to 1TB of additional space.

Mobile

Best tablet deals: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Fire, and more

Front face of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Whether for work, play, or anything in between, a new tablet can make a nice addition to your tech lineup. They’re perfect for kids and professionals, and most brands have something at a price point for everyone. Tablets also make some great tech for some savings, as even the best tablets often see a discount. There are a lot of tablet deals out there, and among them are some of the best Samsung tablet deals, best iPad deals, and best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals we’ve seen. Below you’ll find what we feel are the best tablet deals to shop right now, as well as some information on why each might best suit your tablet needs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (32GB) -- $90, was $160

If you need an Android tablet for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite may be enough for you. Its 8.7-inch screen is decent with WXGA+ resolution, while maintaining portability so you can easily hold the tablet in one hand. Its internal storage is limited at 32GB, but you can expand it by up to 1TB using a microSD card. For the clumsy ones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is perfect for you because it's protected by a sturdy metal frame.

Mobile

5 ways the Samsung Galaxy S24 beats the Google Pixel 8

Samsung Galaxy S24 (left) and Google Pixel 8 in hand.

If you’re in the market for a new Android phone, you have many options to consider. Google's Pixel phones are in better shape than ever, Samsung's Galaxy S range is killing it, OnePlus is on a tear, and Motorola has some very strong options, too.

Out of all the Android phones you have to choose from, there's a strong chance you're thinking about going with either the Google Pixel 8 or the Samsung Galaxy S24. If you're looking at both phones and are unsure which is the best overall pick, here are a few reasons we think you should opt for the Samsung handset.
A lighter and more compact design