Worldwide tablet shipments decline over 12% in Q2 2016: IDC

 Worldwide tablet shipments including slates and detachables, reached 38.7 million in Q2, according to preliminary data from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker. The report said that growth continues to decline with the market receding 12.3% year over year as vendors begin to refocus their product lines and consumers hold off on purchases.

Android based tablets took a lead by tapping 65% market share this past quarter followed by iOS, which captured 26%, and Windows for the remaining share. The research firm stated that this trend has been constant for years and there are early signs of change as the Android vendor list has contracted and champions of the OS have begun to offer Windows-based products, hedging against the decline of Android slates. Despite the continued decline in slates, the form factor still accounts for over three-quarters of the market.

Giving insights about tablet vendor shipments, IDC revealed Apple grabbed top spot with 25.8% market share followed by Samsung with 15.6%. Lenovo, Huawei and Amazon came in third, fourth and fifth respectively with a market share of 6.6%, 5.6% and 4% respectively.

Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers, said,

The market has spoken as consumers and enterprises seek more productive form factors and operating systems – it’s the reason we’re seeing continued growth in detachables. At present, it’s difficult for Android to compete with iOS or Windows detachable products. However, the next 12 to 18 months will be very interesting as Google launches the next version of Android with better multi-tasking support and as they begin to bring together their two operating systems.

Jean Philippe Bouchard, research director, Tablets at IDC said,

While growth in the detachable category is undeniable, slates continue to represent the vast majority of the segment. Vendors like Amazon, with a very focused approach to positioning, price, and purpose, managed to capture a considerable share of the market. Slate sales are declining but they still serve a purpose and will do so for a long time to come.