According the International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide tablet sales have only increase by 3.9% compared to last year. The slowdown was felt regardless of operating system or screen size, and may point to the fact that the tablet industry could be reaching a point of stagnation.
The report also mentioned the rise of large-screen phones and consumers who are holding on to their existing tablets for ever longer periods of time as contributing factors to a weaker-than-anticipated quarter for tablets.
In terms of tablets shipped during first quarter of 2014, Apple is in the lead with 16.4 million units, Samsung at second with 11.2 million, and Asus at third with 2.5 million. Lenovo is a close fourth with 2.1 million shipped units.
I agree with the report that the phones with large screens are mostly to blame for this. I mean, I mostly reach for my phone first when looking for something online, instead of my tablet. And I’ve been contemplating on buying a phone with a much larger screen, rather than lugging around my 7-inch tablet.
What do you guys think of this? Do you think that tablet sales are declining? Would you go for a tablet or a phone with a larger screen?
