Above Avalon:
The tablet market is in complete disarray. Only five short years ago, the iPad helped jumpstart the category, ushering in multi-touch computing and the modern-day app revolution to large-screen devices. Today, there has never been a time when the tablet market faces so much unknown.
A quick look at iPad and tablet shipment data would show that things have gotten bad in recent quarters. However, in reality, things are much worse than quarterly shipment data would suggest.
I think Apple sees this as a good problem to have. They are still selling lots of iPads, are still the market leader and still have the opportunity to control the future of tablets.
But there’s no doubt the market for tablets like the iPad has cratered, due in no small part to large screen iPhones. I know my iPad is only used as a bedside alarm clock now because the iPhone 6 plus has taken over almost all of the functionality I needed and wanted in the iPad. It’s going to be fascinating to see how and if Apple can do anything about this problem or if the iPad will go down as the most successful “failed” product Apple has ever produced.
I think Apple has an “over segmentation” and overlapping product portfolio…
“But there’s no doubt the market for tablets like the iPad has cratered”
False, there’s lots of doubt about this assertion. It has declined mildly. Perhaps you’re trying to be sensational, though.
I think the market for iPads are people who don’t use laptops on a regular basis. For me the 6 Plus is too large as a phone but too small for a laptop replacement. Hence I have a 6 and an iPad Air 2 and I use both extensively.
I just wish comments on The Loop showed up on iPhones and not just iPads, especially now that we have larger-screened iPhones. I made a bookmarklet to make comments display when I’m reading The Loop on my iPhone. I come here not just for the articles but also for the community in the comments (Moeskido, Steven Fisher, Herding_sheep, Kyron, all these awesome people who weigh in with their opinions in addition to Shawn’s, Dave’s and Jim’s), and there’s no good reason for iPhones to be left out of the fun. (Sorry for the lengthy comment.)
I wonder, too, what the impact of a long replacement cycle is on the market. I had an iPhone 5, wanted a retina Mini and bought the Mini 2 when it came out. Aside from damage or the battery failing, I can’t see a reason to replace it ever really. I’m sure I will eventually but aside from the very mild annoyance of no Touch ID I simply don’t need more. The display is retina so that’s not an issue and it’s very light – a couple of ounces won’t induce me to spend hundreds of dollars.
Many people would simply buy a Plus, but I like to carry my phone in my pocket casually and I don’t think a Plus would fit comfortably. Since I dont have a countervailing need for the size of the Plus, I got a regular 6 last year.
The sky is falling is not true for Apple…as many folks have said its the longer renewal cycle. I had my 1st gen iPad until I replaced with a 3rd gen mini. My wife still uses her 2nd gen iPad every day. She’s not willing to update it until it breaks.
For non-apple tablets, the market has stalled. People thought buying inexpensive tablets would work just as well. Of my family & friends that started with non-apple tablets, the smart ones eventually bought an iPad. And are very happy using it. The others think “all” tablets are stupid and a waste.
This is my setup, too, although I have a Mac Mini for my main work. The iPhone 6 has a lot of apps that I use when I am out and about (GasBuddy, Yelp, and other location and contact informational apps). The iPad has things for looking up information, watching longer form entertainment, handling my blogs, artwork and music apps, and other things. Two different use cases.
I hear you — it is ridiculous that this site of all places treats iPhones like second-class web citizens. I’ve written Jim about it but to no avail. therefore I simply don’t visit the site when I’m mobile. unfortunate, and shortsighted. because like you, I feel the community commentary is a big part of the value add.
maybe someday…
The iPad sales as a single company would put it well into the Fortune 500 company. It is very profitable for Apple and well loved by customers. I read MG Siegler’s post (https://500ish.com/crossing-the-ipad-rubicon-51bbdb52bf48) which kind of sums up my feelings.
The iPad is getting closer to my perfect computer. I prefer the application experience on the iPad and I think iOS 9 will improve it. When I have to thump out a lot of words I use an Apple keyboard/Origami case combo. One day it will “cross the Rubicon” for many people but it’s difficult to guess which small innovation, or combination or innovations, will tilt the new sales up again. Personally, I’m not concerned.
Nope.
Apple market share is shrinking. Absolute number of sales for apple is going down. Apple is producing too many ipad into resellers and having too much stock, they have stated this in last two earnings calls. The release sometimes bigger ipad sometimes minis. Sometimes nothing.
This leads to conclusion that Apple has no idea how to push tablet market forward. Ipad users have different use cases and therefore apple will not find any relevant use case on which they can build their vision. On the other hand apple is now afraid of cannibalization of mac sales and ipad is selling ok. So there is no pressure to let the ipad fulfill its pontetial.
Ipad is not big enough so they do not find reason to separate iphone and ipad os versions. Next step would require ipad to find it’s identity.
Ipad is bought by new customers. This is good. And bad. It shows that existing customers are not willing to upgrade. Because new models have significant improvements on performance. We can conclude that not upgrading tells us that users have not found enough good use cases for ipads apart from consuming media. This has the more evidence. All productivity apps in ipad have been brought down to iphone in last year. There has not appeared any significant ipad program in copule year. Not a single one. This tells us that ipad as an production device is dead. The dream has died.
Tablet market as a whole is shriking. Apart one that is growing. And it is growing quite strongly. Microsoft surface. I am looking into it. This might be best promise of tomorrow right now.