NPD DisplaySearch: In a Maturing Tablet PC Market, Apple and Samsung Face Growth Declines
Santa Clara, Calif. (PRWEB) August 14, 2014 -- As the tablet PC market matures and growth slows, the dominance of market leaders Apple and Samsung is also weakening. According to the latest NPD DisplaySearch Monthly Tablet PC Panel Shipment & Value Chain Report, total tablet PC display shipments declined 10 percent between the first half (1H) of 2013 and 2014, while combined tablet PC display shipments to Apple and Samsung fell 34 percent. While the two companies comprised 42 percent of tablet PC panel shipments in the first half (1H) of 2013, their combined share dropped to 29 percent in 1H 2014.
“As the tablet PC category matures, Apple and Samsung are facing new growth challenges,” said Brian Huh, senior analyst for small and medium displays for NPD DisplaySearch. “The tablet PC leaders have been dealing with an increase in large-screen smartphone sales, a slowdown in the consumer replacement cycle, as well as greater competition from white-box brands and other low-cost tablet PCs.”
Total tablet PC panel shipments to Apple reached just 31 million units in 1H 2014, which is a year-over-year decline of 14 percent. During that same period, panels shipped to Samsung fell to 14.7 million units, a year-over-year decline of 29 percent.
In the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2013, Apple launched its new high-end iPad series, with the 7.9-inch iPad mini retina display and the 9.7-inch iPad air. Panel shipment levels were increased to satisfy new-product demand and year-end seasonality. However, since the beginning of this year, demand rapidly decreased, which forced LG Display, Samsung Display, Sharp, and AUO to ship fewer panels than previously planned.
Samsung also focused on the high-end tablet PC segment, led by the Galaxy Tab, Tab Pro, and Galaxy Note Pro devices; however, like Apple, panel shipment demand also decreased significantly in the first half of this year. Samsung released new products, like the 8.4-inch, 10.1-inch, and 12.2-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) panels, in Q1 2014; however, demand did not keep pace with previous market expectations. Furthermore, mid-level tablet PC panel shipments for Samsung’s 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10.1-inch WXGA (1280x800) products also declined, which caused JDI, Samsung Display and BOE to reduce tablet PC panel production in 2014.
The NPD DisplaySearch Monthly Tablet PC Panel Shipment & Value Chain Report maps the relationships between panel suppliers and purchasers with actual shipment information and provides a clear understanding of industry relationships that drive this category.. For more information, please contact Charles Camaroto at 888-436-7673 or 516-625-2452, e-mail contact(at)displaysearch(dot)com, or contact your regional NPD DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
About NPD DisplaySearch
NPD DisplaySearch, part of The NPD Group, provides global market research and consulting specializing in the display supply chain, including trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge. NPD DisplaySearch supply chain expertise complements sell-through information from The NPD Group, thereby providing a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information, visit us at http://www.displaysearch.com. Read our blog at http://www.displaysearchblog.com and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group provides global information and advisory services to drive better business decisions. By combining unique data assets with unmatched industry expertise, we help our clients track their markets, understand consumers, and drive profitable growth. Practice areas include automotive, beauty, consumer electronics, entertainment, fashion, food/foodservice, home, luxury, mobile, office supplies, sports, technology, toys, and video games. For more information, visit npd.com and npdgroupblog.com. Follow us on Twitter at @npdtech and @npdgroup.
Lee Graham, The NPD Group, 212-333-4983, [email protected]
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