14 DAY TRIAL // Research studies proclaiming the downfall of the tablet have been around for some time, so they aren't exactly something new.
It has been stipulated that tablets are some kind of luxury and only those enjoying the benefits of an above average income can afford such a spoil. However, this statement is only half true, because more and more manufacturers have taken the plunge in the budget market, offering products for any wallet out there.
In a recent interview with Re/Code, CEO of popular retail chain Best Buy Hubert Joly has shared a few thoughts on why tablet sales appear to be indeed declining. According to him, they are being overshadowed by laptop/tablet hybrids, which have become the devices du jour.
Interestingly enough, Joly goes as far as to say that the tablet market is “crashing,” but the term isn’t meant to be a disruptive one. It’s just meant to highlight the obvious change of tide.
Back in the days of the early tablets sales couldn't stop growing, but now everything has become sluggish, as consumers aren't in a haste to pick up a tablet anymore.
Another issue that Joly believes is threatening the continuous growth of the market is the fact that once a buyer picks up a tablet, he or she won’t be in a hurry to replace it.
Smartphone users usually go in for an upgrade every two years or so and laptop users refresh their device every five to seven years, but tablet owners are the odd ball out. Once they have settled with a slate and become comfy with it, you won’t see them upgrading anytime soon.
Tapping into Best Buy’s sale figures, Joly goes on to mention that the PC market has started on a rebound path and this is in part attributed to Microsoft’s decision of discontinuing support for Windows XP.
Hybrid laptop/tablet combos are the ones directly threatening tablets. Naturally, if a customer is going to pick up a notebook with a detachable keyboard, he or she won’t be grabbing a tablet anytime soon.
Back at Computex 2014, it became quite clear that this year was going to be the year of the 2-in-1. Lots of companies have been rushing to introduce 2-in-1 devices, including Lenovo, Acer, ASUS (the uncrowned king of the 2-in-1), Toshiba, and HP.
With the advent of the Intel Core M platform, super sleek and slim 2-in-1s will also make a debut on the market, and chances are they will make customers forget all about the simple tablet.