Android overtakes Apple's iPad in tablet marketshare, approaches in revenue earned
Apple's iPad and iPad mini are still the most popular tablets in the world, but Android-powered tablets are grabbing an increasing share of the market and are collectively approaching the iPad in terms of revenue, according to a new study from ABI Research.
During the second quarter of 2013, Android-powered tablets as a collective overtook the iPad and iPad mini in terms of market share, according to ABI's Media Tablets, Ultrabooks and eReaders Research Service. The figures mirror previous findings from other market research firms.
Perhaps more importantly, ABI's research found that tablets running Android are finally approaching Apple's offerings in terms of revenue generated. The overall tablet market for the second quarter of 2013 reached $12.7 billion in value. Of that, the iPad represented 50 percent of worldwide end-user revenues, the first time that has happened, according to ABI.
The firm also found that the average sale price (ASP) for iPads is "rapidly approaching" the average of the rest of the market. iPad ASP dropped 17 percent last quarter, while ASP for Android-powered tablets rose 17 percent over the same period.
This finding, according to ABI, stems from the popularity of the iPad mini, which the research firm says accounts for 60 percent of Apple's total shipments, as well as 49 percent of the company's tablet revenues. Apple does not break down iPad sales by device, but the iPad mini, with its smaller, more portable form factor, has proved remarkably popular in the months since its release.
Apple's smaller tablet offering is the most popular device in what is proving to be the most popular segment of the tablet market. ABI found that 7-inch class tablets made up the majority of shipments for the first time in the second quarter of 2013.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has already acknowledged how important the tablet segment is to the Cupertino, Calif.-based company. Speaking earlier this year, Cook called the tablet market "the mother of all markets" and expressed faith in Apple's ability to compete effectively.
ABI's most recent figures reflect tablet shipments, and therefore do not necessarily show an accurate representation of the number of tablets bought and in the hands of consumers. Cook has previously expressed skepticism on the reliability of such figures, pointing to other studies showing the iPad with a massive usage lead over other devices.
"iPad accounts for 84 percent of the web traffic from tablet," Cook said in July, "which is absolutely incredible. So if there are lots of other tablets selling, I don't know what they are being used for."
During the second quarter of 2013, Android-powered tablets as a collective overtook the iPad and iPad mini in terms of market share, according to ABI's Media Tablets, Ultrabooks and eReaders Research Service. The figures mirror previous findings from other market research firms.
Perhaps more importantly, ABI's research found that tablets running Android are finally approaching Apple's offerings in terms of revenue generated. The overall tablet market for the second quarter of 2013 reached $12.7 billion in value. Of that, the iPad represented 50 percent of worldwide end-user revenues, the first time that has happened, according to ABI.
The firm also found that the average sale price (ASP) for iPads is "rapidly approaching" the average of the rest of the market. iPad ASP dropped 17 percent last quarter, while ASP for Android-powered tablets rose 17 percent over the same period.
This finding, according to ABI, stems from the popularity of the iPad mini, which the research firm says accounts for 60 percent of Apple's total shipments, as well as 49 percent of the company's tablet revenues. Apple does not break down iPad sales by device, but the iPad mini, with its smaller, more portable form factor, has proved remarkably popular in the months since its release.
Apple's smaller tablet offering is the most popular device in what is proving to be the most popular segment of the tablet market. ABI found that 7-inch class tablets made up the majority of shipments for the first time in the second quarter of 2013.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has already acknowledged how important the tablet segment is to the Cupertino, Calif.-based company. Speaking earlier this year, Cook called the tablet market "the mother of all markets" and expressed faith in Apple's ability to compete effectively.
ABI's most recent figures reflect tablet shipments, and therefore do not necessarily show an accurate representation of the number of tablets bought and in the hands of consumers. Cook has previously expressed skepticism on the reliability of such figures, pointing to other studies showing the iPad with a massive usage lead over other devices.
"iPad accounts for 84 percent of the web traffic from tablet," Cook said in July, "which is absolutely incredible. So if there are lots of other tablets selling, I don't know what they are being used for."
Comments
"shipments"
Want to elaborate?
Average Sales Price is approaching iPads? Are there even android tablets that sell for $329 or more?
Isn't the new Galaxy Tab 3 8" over $300? Could be wrong.
Want to elaborate?
Toot toot. ????
The vendors are also trying to fight for shelf space for the holiday season. So they are shipping more aggressively from a low base.
Apple will start to do the same whenever they release their next gen iPads. The marketshare number should tilt in favor of Apple again when that happens.
Toot toot. ????
Train impressions. If its steam, don't forget the chuff chuff sound.
Fantastic device, but it's a year old now, and the Android tablets, despite their shortcomings, show it up on screen resolution. Hopefully it won't be long - a retina iPad Mini and discounts on the current version would be a strong line-up going into the pre-Christmas season.
I hop you get it but it doesn't look good in terms of cost and power resources this year.
This is why companies MUST report sell-in, channel inventory, sell through, and profit numbers to get the real picture. Otherwise, it is likely that they are fudging their numbers for various purposes.
In US, such practices are better tracked, and channel stuff is illegal. It will be harder for these vendors to fake numbers here.
Android fans truely believe it's all about specs. It's not.
Want to elaborate?
The common AppleInsider consensus is that Android devices don't actually exist or sell. Samsung makes a bunch of them and ships them out to sea, and apparently sinks them in a secret location. Apple builds the only electronics products that people actually buy.
The shipped vs sold arguments are usually followed up by questioning the validity of the source and concluding they are 'a bunch of idiots' followed by browsing usage and 'mindshare' arguments. Just trying to condense every thread related to Android sales into one paragraph
Oh sh1t. Tim Cook just read this post and will get right on it. It turns out they were playing candy crush the entire year!
I haven't seen too many Android tabs in public.
IMO no retina mini this year is basically Apple handing the tablet space to the competition on a silver platter. Sorry but paying a "premium" for the iOS ecosystem and Apple customer support won't be enough. The products need to be better. And with a retina mini Apple would basically own the tablet market again.
I doubt any OEM's fake numbers. They just don't report them. And they don't have to because these bullshit analytical firms do it for them. Of course none of these numbers can be verified or are audited in any way,
I have seen better ones getting used too, mainly for watching pirated movies, play games or in specialized apps (e.g., single purpose Chinese restaurant cash register). Perhaps that's why their usage number is not so high compared to iPad consumers.
I sold channel tracking software and services for 2 years. You would be surprised what they do, especially in Asia.
Edit:
That's partly why I quit the company. There is no future.
The software and practices help management track the real situation out in the channel. But because the management are subjected to made-up sales targets (e.g., twice last quarter's target just because boss/investors said so), they would rather not expose the real ground situation.
Even if a new CEO came in, it would be foolish for him to undo the inflated channel numbers. He would be the one who report the bad but real performance. Might as well let the current situation continue while he look for another way out. Sony was bitten by this problem, but Kaz Hirai could force a change because the whole operation was in a spiral anyway.
In no way does either Amazon nor Asus do what Apple does in terms of quality, volume, and profit so you can't make up some stupid comparison about some break-even tablet like the Fire HD that ships with a highly inferior display that is only good on resolution and low on volume.
What you claim is completely false. The 7" Fire HD is only about 30% heavier than the iPad mini but only 22" of display area compared to the 30" of the iPad mini.