Global tablet market continues to decline, rebound likely by 2018

The latest data from International Data Corporation (IDC) has suggested tablet shipments will bounce back from their current slump by 2018, IT Pro reports.

However, the forecast for the tablet market for the rest of 2016 isn't looking good. The ICD Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker expects the market to reach an all-time low of -11.5% growth, with predicted shipments of 183.4 million units across Android, iOS and Windows devices.

As popularity in the consumer market has begun to wane, the analyst firm has highlighted the need for manufacturers to develop devices that are desirable to businesses.

Senior research analyst, Jitesh Ubrani, said: "Appealing to the commercial audience will be key as detachable tablets aim to take a larger piece of the traditional PC market.

"Windows iOS already have solid detachable offerings and with the latest version of Android, Google will also have a horse in the race as they finally offer better multitasking support and added security features."

But consumers aren't just interested in how their tablets run; the size of tablets will also have a big impact on tablet shipments.

While IDC predicts more than half (55%) of tablets shipped in 2016 will have screens smaller than 9in, this trend won't last for long as the firm expects these smaller slates to account for just 40% or less of tablet shipments by 2020. This change will have an effect on getting tablets off the shelves.

Research director at IDC, Jean Philippe Bouchard, explained: "We see smaller slate tablets being offered at very aggressive price points, leaving little room for revenues outside of a pure volume or platform play like for Amazon for instance.

"The price pressure combined with a healthier demand on larger screen sizes and detachable tablets will eventually result in an increased portfolio offering from tablet and PC manufacturers."

Globally, IDC predicts significant market share growth for Windows tablets, despite it being the junior player. It is expected that the operating system will increase from a market share of 8.6% in 2015 to 11.3% in 2016 and 19.3% in 2020.

Meanwhile, Android tablets will continue to have the biggest market share despite it declining, and Apple is expected to remain fairly steady.