Global tablet shipments grew 20.4 percent year-over-year in Q3 2024: IDC

According to a report from a market research firm, tablet shipments worldwide grew 20.4 percent year-on-year in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, reaching a total of 39.6 million units. The report notes that the “gloomy 2023 market” makes for easy year-over-year comparisons, but supply growth is nevertheless a good thing for the tablet market. According to the report, which is based on preliminary data, AI integrations in tablets contributed to growing optimism about tablet shipments in the third quarter of 2024.

Global tablet shipments grew in Q3 2024

According to an International Data Corporation (IDC) reportGlobal tablet shipments increased 20.4 percent to 39.6 million units in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 32.9 million units in the third quarter of 2023. The report is based on preliminary data from IDC Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker notes that compared to Q3 2023, the reason for tablet shipment growth in Q3 2024 includes increasing AI integration into the devices. Aside from the Microsoft Surface Pro with CoPilot+, all other AI-integrated tablets are still in their infancy at best, the report said. However, these new features are said to “pique consumer interest” and result in potentially higher average selling prices (ASPs).

Apple shipped 12.6 million tablets in the third quarter of 2024, up 1.4 percent year-over-year, while Samsung recorded 7.1 million shipments in the third quarter of 2024, up 18.3 percent year-over-year, according to the report. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ launched with AI features during the quarter, but the Galaxy Tab A9 models drove sales growth in most regions.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet has been updated with generative AI features. Amazon saw 4.6 million tablet shipments in the third quarter of 2024, with 111.4 percent year-over-year growth. The majority of their sales came from Prime Day deals thanks to deep discounts. With 3.3 million and 3 million units shipped, respectively, Huawei and Lenovo saw year-over-year tablet shipment growth of 44.1 percent and 14.7 percent in Q3 2024.

Among several ways to increase their market presence, brands partnered with educational institutions, announced entertainment and gaming partnerships, promoted cross-device connectivity, and more, the report said. Incorporating AI-enabled features into tablets would have helped the companies grow in these areas. AI innovations have also led to customers being willing to pay higher prices and prioritizing devices with these features over others, the report said.