Worldwide Tablet Shipments Expected to Decline -8.0% in 2015 While 2-in-1 Devices Pick Up Momentum, Growing 86.5%, According to IDC

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--()--According to a new forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, tablet shipments, inclusive of 2-in-1 devices, are expected to decline -8.0% in 2015, representing a notable slowdown from IDC's previous forecast of -3.8%. Shipments are now expected to reach 212 million with the vast majority being pure slate tablets.

The overall trajectory of the tablet market has not changed significantly over the past year and a half, but the 2-in-1 segment, also referred to as detachables, is starting to gain traction. While the 2-in-1 form factor is not new, OEMs are getting more serious about this market and as a result IDC expects the 2-in-1 segment to grow 86.5% year over year in 2015 with 14.7 million units shipped. Although this volume is far below that of the more affordable slate tablet segment, IDC believes these devices appeal to an audience seeking an alternative to pure tablets with smaller screens.

"In the past, the biggest challenges with 2-in-1 devices were high price points, less than appealing designs, and, quite frankly, lack of demand for Windows 8, which was the OS most devices were running," said Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "With more OEMs offering devices in this segment, prices have started to come down significantly. We estimate that over 40 different vendors shipped 2-in-1 products in the second quarter of 2015, which is up from just 14 vendors two years ago. With the launch of Windows 10, the introduction of more Android-based products, and the possibility that Apple will unveil a larger, screen-detachable iPad, this is the space to watch."

The commercial market has been very reluctant to migrate toward tablets, and IDC believes this is largely due to an unclear value proposition. The 2-in-1 segment should find opportunities within the commercial market, but IT buyers have been slow to move toward mobile devices beyond smartphones and do not yet see tablets or 2-in-1's as a true PC replacement.

"Commercial segments will play a crucial role in the future of 2-in-1's," said Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director, Tablets. "It will take some time but we expect that once IT departments are done evaluating Windows 10 and the awaited iPad Pro, they will start migrating some their portable PC and tablet installed base towards 2-in-1's, which will accelerate the adoption of the form factor. So far, this category has been the led by Microsoft with its Surface product line. But with the arrival of the iPad Pro, the launch of Windows 10, which is better suited for the 2-in-1 form factor, and the introduction of Intel's Skylake silicon, we expect a flurry of new devices to launch between now and December 2015."

IDC expects the average selling price (ASP) of slate tablets to drop below $300 given the number of low-cost Android models still widely available. The ASP is being driven down by the abundance of smaller devices (7-8" screen size) that are largely whitebox (or unknown OEMs) and created to meet growing demand from markets outside China and India, such as the Middle East & Africa. Despite this trend, IDC expects the share of larger screen (>10") tablets and 2-in-1's will grow from 18.6% in 2014 to 39.5% in 2019, fueled by the impact of phablets and a growing commercial appetite for productivity solutions.

Worldwide Tablet/2-in-1 Forecast by OS, Shipments, Market Share, Growth and 5-Year CAGR
(units in millions)

                             
Region  

2015*
Shipment
Volumes

 

2015*
Market
Share

 

2015*
YoY
Growth

 

2019*
Shipment
Volumes

 

2019*
Market
Share

 

2019*
YoY
Growth

 

5 year
CAGR

Android   139.8   66.0%   -10.0%   135.4   56.6%   -0.2%   -2.7%
iOS   54.0   25.5%   -14.9%   61.9   25.9%   3.2%   -0.5%
Windows   17.7   8.4%   59.5%   41.7   17.5%   15.3%   30.3%
Others   0.4   0.2%   -15.8%   -   0.0%   -   -100.0%
Total   212.0   100.0%   -8.0%   239.0   100.0%   3.1%   0.7%
             

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, August 26, 2015.

* Forecast data

In addition to the table above, an interactive graphic showing the worldwide tablet and 2-in-1 market by device type in 2015 and 2019 is available here. The chart is intended for public use in online news articles and social media. Instructions on how to embed this graphic can be found by viewing this press release on IDC.com.

About IDC Trackers
IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools. The IDC Tracker Charts app allows users to view data charts from the most recent IDC Tracker products on their iPhone and iPad. The IDC Tracker Chart app is also available for Android Phones and Android Tablets.

For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.

About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.

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Contacts

IDC
Jean Philippe Bouchard, 647-463-8618
jbouchard@idc.com
or
Ryan Reith, 650-350-6242
rreith@idc.com
@ryanreith
or
Michael Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com

Release Summary

According to a new forecast from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, tablet shipments, inclusive of 2-in-1 devices, are expected to decline -8.0% to 212 million units shipped in 2015.

Contacts

IDC
Jean Philippe Bouchard, 647-463-8618
jbouchard@idc.com
or
Ryan Reith, 650-350-6242
rreith@idc.com
@ryanreith
or
Michael Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com