Android tablets flip the table on iPads
Android tablets flip the table on iPads
NEW DELHI: While Apple’s iPhones are continuing to gain in popularity in India, it is a different story for iPads which are facing stiff competition from Android rivals such as Samsung, Lenovo, and Xiaomi.
Following technological advancements such as 5G support, high-resolution display, stylus support and more, shipments of Android tablets in the consumer segment surged in the March quarter, which also saw easing of inventory bottlenecks. In contrast, iPad shipment growth remained nearly flat during the quarter at a time when the consumer segment grew 10% from a year earlier, according to IDC India.
Cybermedia Research (CMR) said rival Android brands reported double-digit, and even triple-digit growth in the March quarter.
Slowing iPad shipments in the Indian market is in line with global trends for the US company, which reported last week that global revenue from iPad business fell 17% year-on-year to $5.55 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Apple announced new iPad models on Tuesday that come with upgraded processors and display along with an improved stylus. “Apple did not stock the channels as it wanted to push the now-released iPad models. Hence, it is expected to bounce back in Q2 in the consumer segment compared to Q1 as the new models start hitting the shelves,” said Bharat Shenoy, research analyst, at IDC.
The research firm said base iPad variants are facing stiff competition from the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus tablet models. According to CMR, Samsung held the top position in the Indian tablet market, including the commercial business-to-business (B2B) segment. The Korean company had a 37% market share, growing 49% y-o-y on the back of a strong B2B deal and robust sales of budget tablets.
Apple remained the second largest tablet brand in India with 21% share, falling from 23% in Q1 2023, with its growth rate slowing to 6%, said CMR. It said the Indian tablet market grew 18% on-year in the March quarter.
IDC India’s early estimates showed the consumer tablet market grew 10% y-o-y while the commercial segment faced headwinds amid slow edtech growth, and fewer government deals.
Xiaomi saw its market share soar from just 1% in Q1 2023 to 12% in Q1 2024, propelled by strong sales of the Pad 6 model, which had a dominant 51% share of the company’s tablet shipments, according to CMR. The Chinese company has four tablets in its portfolio – two mid-range products and two in the budget segment.
“The rapid rollout of 5G infrastructure and the increasing availability of 5G-enabled tablets are fuelling a consumer desire for future-proofing themselves with 5G tablets,” said Menka Kumari, analyst-industry intelligence group, CMR.
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