Tablet sales growth is slowing in 2014 as new hardware buyers turn to alternative devices and existing users extend the lifetime of their tablets, according to Gartner.
The market research firm estimates that tablet sales worldwide will reach 229 million units in 2014, representing 9.5% of total worldwide sales of devices in 2014.
Growth is pegged at 11% increase over the 2013 volume, which is just a fifth as fast as 55% in 2013 over the previous year.
Worldwide combined shipments of devices (PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones) for 2014 are estimated to increase by 3.2% to reach 2.4 billion units.
In the tablets segment, the downward trend stems from the slowdown in basic ultramobiles, new sales of iPads and Android tablets, and the lifetime extension of current tablets to three years by 2018.
Gartner projects over 90 million fewer new tablet purchasers and 155 million fewer tablet replacements through 2018.
"Some tablet users are not replacing a tablet with a tablet, they are favoring hybrid or two-in-one devices, increasing its share of the ultramobile premium market to 22% in 2014, and 32% by 2018," said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner.