Skip to main content

Latest IDC report shows decrease in global tablet shipments in 2018

Intel is bringing you faster Wi-Fi
Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), numbers for global tablet shipments have decreased. With an 11.7 percent year-over-year decline, the shipments reached 31.7 million whereas 35.8 million units were shipped during the same quarter in 2017.

Recommended Videos

In the report, IDC’s results measure the total tablet market which includes slate tablets as well as detachable tablets. Traditional slate tablet specifically shipped 26.8 million units, bringing its shipments down by 13.9 percent from 2017.

While the overall number of global tablet shipments saw a decrease, preliminary data shows that the Microsoft Surface and iPad Pro experienced more than 2.9 percent year-over-year growth. With Apple snagging the top spot for the most tablets shipped in the first quarter, Samsung took second place with Huawei in third.

IDC estimates that Apple shipped 9.1 million iPads — of those shipments, 1.8 million were iPad Pro tablets. This makes Apple the current leader in the detachable market. But its high numbers could be in part to the new 9.7-inch iPad the company released as part of its educational initiative, which launched right as the quarter was ending.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s shipments declined by 11.4 percent in comparison to last year. While it’s one of the only brands that offers premium Android tablets — such as its Tab S series — it could be tough for the company to keep its spot while running against companies like Apple and Microsoft.

Huawei, on the other hand, saw a 13 percent increase from last year which placed it back into the top three. While a majority of its shipments were from the Asia/Pacific region, it also saw substantial growth in Europe.

Within IDC’s list of the top five tablet companies, Lenovo and Amazon took fourth and fifth place, respectively. While Lenovo grew 1.8 percent since last year, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot as one of the top three companies.

As for Amazon, coming in last place is most likely tied to the fact that their tablets are more seasonal. During the first quarter, the company was instead focused on adding more features to its Alexa platform such as voice assistant for its Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets.

But while the numbers of shipments are down, IDC points to Google’s entrance into the tablet world as a way to bring those numbers back up.

“Peak education buying season is approaching, and Chrome OS has resonated with administrators for its manageability where deployment is strong. Schools looking for that same environment but in tablet form — generally, students aren’t provisioned a device with a keyboard until older — could find favor with these new devices,” Linn Huang, IDC research director, said in a statement.

The company launched its first Chrome OS tablet — Acer Chromebook Tab 10 — back in March. While it doesn’t have a keyboard, it comes packaged with a Wacom-branded stylus.

Brenda Stolyar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…
5 tablets you should buy instead of the iPad (2022)
The yellow iPad (2022) lying face-down on a green bush.

Apple has finally released two new iPads this calendar year: the iPad Air (2024) and the iPad Pro (2024). However, the regular iPad hasn't been updated since 2022. It's not a bad tablet by any means, but with a little bit of research and know-how, you can find other tablets that might be a much better fit.

Here are the best iPad (2022) alternatives you can purchase now. A few might surprise you.
iPad Air (2024)

Read more
This new Android tablet is everything I wish the 2024 iPad Air was
Vivo Pad 3

China-based Vivo has introduced a new tablet, the Vivo Pad 3, and based on the specs alone, this could fast become one of the best Android tablets of the year. Perhaps more importantly, it could become an exciting competitor to the recently released iPad Air (2024).

The Vivo Pad 3 boasts a 12.1-inch LCD, a 2,800 x 1,968 resolution, and a 7:5 screen ratio. The display, with a P3 gamut, also offers 600 nits peak brightness and HDR10 support. As if that weren't enough, you also get a 144Hz refresh rate.

Read more
5 tablets you should buy instead of the iPad Pro (2024)
rear shell of M4 iPad Pro.

iPad Pro (M4) Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

The iPad Pro is Apple’s top-tier iPad model, and Apple finally gave it a big refresh after a year-and-a-half drought. The iPad Pro (2024) comes in two sizes -- 11 inches and 13 inches -- and packs in the latest silicon with the powerful M4 chip. Models with 1TB or 2TB even have a new nano-texture finish over the display, which is more anti-reflective than the regular models.

Read more