14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Apple are now competing against each other in the detachable PC market too, as both have products that are focused on productivity and are supposed to offer the best of two worlds, laptops and tablets.
But according to data provided by IDC, Windows is the undisputed leader in terms of Western European shipments of ultraslim convertibles and detachables, holding a market share of no less than 59.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.
How’s that possible? It appears that sales in this particular market improved by 44.7 percent during the quarter, as more consumers and enterprises are looking for 2-in-1s as a solution to tackle work at the desk and on the go.
With Surface already a powerful option, it’s no surprise that Windows dominates the industry, but Apple is also working hard to become more relevant in this business with the Pro versions of the iPad.
Cupertino had a share of 14.9 percent in the detachable business in Western Europe, but figures are very likely to grow, given the arrival of the 9.7-inch model.
Continued growth in the coming months
IDC says these figures can only improve in the coming months and forecasts a continued growth corroborated with the decline of the PC market, as more buyers are looking at detachables as devices to replace their traditional desktops.
“Adoption among business users is only just starting,” said Marta Fiorentini, research manager, IDC EMEA Personal Computing.
“We expect an acceleration in detachable deployments in the coming months as companies evaluate the new and more powerful commercial designs that have recently been introduced. Interest from enterprises is clear and this form factor seems to be a perfect fit with their mobility strategies. In some countries, we also see detachable deployments taking place in the public sector, which is usually more traditional in its form factor choices and often challenged by budget constraints.”
Both Microsoft and Apple will continue to invest in this business, and the Redmond-based software giant is expected to launch refreshed products in early 2017. A new Surface Pro model, as well as the second-generation Surface Book, is likely to see daylight next year.