Although the iPad is the current leader in the tablet market, accounting for 24.5% of all tablet sales, its market share has consistently decreased by about 18% over the last few years, Tech Republicreports. Samsung’s tablet sales decreased by 12% from last year, and the market as a whole shrank by 7%.
“We have gotten to the point that the status quo will likely lead to the iPad and the modern-day tablet becoming irrelevant over time,” analyst Neil Cybart writes. As advancements in Apple’s iPhones and MacBooks continue apace, consumers are much more likely to choose one of those devices over an iPad.
About 3 million units of the original iPad are still in use. These devices are slow, heavy, and their screens are not as good as those found on iPhones or MacBooks.
When the iPad Mini was released in November 2012, it was deemed one of the best tablets on the market. But consumers are more likely to buy a tablet based on price rather than how well it operates, and they’re often used for passive activities like watching videos and surfing the web instead of the “productivity and content creation tools Apple has been marketing,” Cybart speculates.
Cybart is skeptical that tablet users will upgrade a device that they’re just using to watch Netflix. Despite the skepticism, Apple (AAPL) hasn’t given up on tablets, as it works to make the iPad more work-friendly.