Tablet Market Growth Hits 8-Year High

People are still working, learning, and playing from home, which has led to more demand for tablets than can be met right now, according to a new report by Strategy Analytics. Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and Amazon all posted strong tablet results in the first quarter of 2021 as COVID-19 has reshaped how consumers spend time and where they get work done.

Tablets are now able to meet this moment after years of productivity-focused upgrades. Employers and employees have found key benefits in work-from-home (WFH) arrangements, which could bode well for longer term tablet usage and ownership trends.

“To find this kind of growth, we have to go all the back to 1Q13, which is just incredible to think about. One thing to keep in mind is a favorable comparison to the dire environment the world was facing in 1Q20. Still, continued work-from-home activity has baked in the need for real computing power in the home for each member of the household. Our surveys are showing that attitudes toward WFH are net positive even as people look beyond COVID-19 restrictions lifting,“ said Eric Smith, director of connected computing at Strategy Analytics.

“Apple had very strong performance last quarter, but so did many of its Android rivals like Samsung, Lenovo, and Amazon. Productivity is a part of most vendor line-ups now, which lends well to work and learn-from-home demand. Even as laptop demand stays hot, Windows Detachables from Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, and Dell are showing growth once again. And, as we all seek ways of unwinding at home, tablets provide flexibility in being able to enjoy videos, games, and communication,“ added Chirag Upadhyay, industry analyst at Strategy Analytics.