According to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet ·Tracker· data· for· CY 2013, the overall India Tablet shipments for CY 2013 ·stood· at· 4.14· million· units representing a year-on-year growth of 56.4% ·over· CY 2012. While 1H 2013 witnessed substantial growth in Tablet volumes ·driven· largely· by low-end devices, the market observed contraction in the ·second· half· of· 2013. Despite a strong festive season demand, spending on ·tablets· slowed· down· in 2H 2013 as the consumer adoption approached early ·stages of maturity on this category of devices.
A· deep· dive· into the screen size trends highlights that there has been a ·growing· acceptance for 'phablets', tablets with screen size of 8 < 9 inch. 'The· popularity of phablets has in fact crossed over the demand for 7 inch ·tablets.· For· a· price· conscious· market like India, it is about owning a ·combination device, meeting the needs with one device instead of two. Also, ·the· return rates on low cost 7 inch tablets have been unexplainably large. ·First· time· users· latching· onto· such devices are now looking to move to ·products· that· offer· better experience in terms of life span and quality' said, Karan Thakkar, Senior Market Analyst with IDC.
·Top Vendor Highlights: ·
Samsung:· With· 18.7%· market· share, Samsung outperformed its competitors ·with· strong· presence· in· 7· <· 8· inch screen size. Despite a dominating ·presence,· the· vendor has scaled down its volumes owing to changing market ·dynamics. ·Micromax: With 8.9% market share, Micromax retained its rank, primarily due ·to their value for money proposition and concerted marketing efforts
Apple:· With 7.5% market share, Apple has shown significant growth in 7 < 8 ·inch· screen· size despite its niche positioning. iPad Mini was noted to be ·well· accepted· by· the· market,· supported· by· instalment· payments· for ·consumers.
·IDC Forecast ·
IDC· anticipates· the overall Tablet market to remain flat in CY 2014. 'The ·Government· mandate on BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Certification mixed ·with the growing popularity of phablets is likely to obstruct the growth in ·the tablet category', said Kiran Kumar, Research Manager with IDC.
However,· there· has· been· an· uptake· in· the adoption of tablets amongst ·commercial· users. These are primarily meeting relevant needs in industries ·such· as· financial· services,· healthcare,· media· and· education, amongst ·others.· 'Activities· such as interactive digital presentations, collecting ·KYC· (Know· your· Customer)· documents,· and point-of-sale transactions are ·typical use cases', added Karan Thakkar.
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