Tablet sales growth set to slow in 2014

Enterprise Innovation editors
09 Jul 2014
00:00

Worldwide combined shipments of devices – including PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones -- are projected to increase by 4.2% to reach 2.4 billion units in 2014, according to Gartner.

"This year will be marked by a relative revival of the global PC market," said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner.

Atwal said that after declining 9.5% in 2013, the global PC market -- desk-based, notebook and premium ultramobile -- is on pace to contract by only 2.9% in 2014.

"Business upgrades from Windows XP and the general business replacement cycle will lessen the downward trend, especially in Western Europe," said Atwal. "This year, we anticipate nearly 60 million professional PC replacements in mature markets."

The traditional PC market -- desk-based and notebook—is expected follow the same downward trend and is on pace to contract 6.7% in 2014 and 5.3% in 2015.

Also, As with any devices, adoption goes through phases from the early to the late adopter and tablets are currently moving onto the latter part of that curve in mature markets.

Gartner estimates that sales of tablets will see a relative slowdown in 2014 to reach 256 million units, an increase of 23.9% from 2013.

The slowing global tablet penetration is attributed to lower demand in mature markets for tablets with smaller screens, some in favor of larger screens, as well as the shift towards phablets in Southeast Asia.

"The next wave of adoption will be driven by lower price points rather than superior functionality," added Atwal.

As for mobile phones, sales are expected to reach 1.9 billion units in 2014, a 3.1% increase from 2013.

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