Big Smartphones Ate the Tablet Market

Megalith

Megalith

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According to data in a new forecast by research firm Forrester, the number of tablets in active use will decline for the first time this year, and interest will continue to decline by 1 percent over the next five years. Smartphones with large screens are supposedly to blame, but I suspect that light and powerful 2-in-1 laptops are also contributing to the decay.

Big phones are to blame, especially in developing markets like China and India where most — 65 percent and 62 percent, respectively — smartphone owners have big screens, between 5 inches and 6 inches in diagonal (an iPhone 7 Plus measures 5.5 inches diagonally). Accordingly, just 6.4 percent of the population in China and 1.1 percent in India have tablets, according to Forrester. Smartphones are often the primary devices for people in developing nations to connect to the internet, and it’s where smartphone sales are growing the fastest. Bigger smartphones let users complete a wider range of activities — and also obviate the need for tablets.
 
Microsoft: take note. Now is the time to release some all-in-one x86-64 phablet models running Win10 Pro...with docking capability for enterprise desktop/laptop replacement use.
 
Megalith said:
Smartphones with large screens are supposedly to blame, but I suspect that light and powerful 2-in-1 laptops are also contributing to the decay.
Click to expand...

It's probably a combination of both. Mobile OS tablets to this point haven't been able to replace laptops for general productivity and 2 in 1s sort of give you the best of both worlds.
 
DejaWiz said:
Microsoft: take note. Now is the time to release some all-in-one x86-64 phablet models running Win10 Pro...with docking capability for enterprise desktop/laptop replacement use.
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It sort of looks like there's where Microsoft is headed with their phone effort, such that it is now though it looks like Microsoft is going the ARM route with x86 emulation, assuming that they don't get into a fight with Intel and that the emulation is effective. Intel still really hasn't cracked the handheld x86 nut yet. Atoms still just don't pack enough punch and mobile Core solutions are very expensive and still pretty power hungry.

But whatever Microsoft does next in phones if anything, I'm guessing it's just going to be Windows 10 using cshell to scale across various screen sizes. That won't save Microsoft in the phone business and I'm sure these will not be cheap devices but I think there is a market for this kind of device, certainly a niche market but one that will spend money for a true Windows x86 compatible phone.
 
heatlesssun said:
It's probably a combination of both. Mobile OS tablets to this point haven't been able to replace laptops for general productivity and 2 in 1s sort of give you the best of both worlds.
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This.

Why buy a 7" tablet, when you have a 6" phone?

Why buy a 10" tablet, when you can get a full laptop (that converts to a tablet) for about the same price.

The sales are being cannibalized from both sides.
 
DejaWiz said:
Microsoft: take note. Now is the time to release some all-in-one x86-64 phablet models running Win10 Pro...with docking capability for enterprise desktop/laptop replacement use.
Click to expand...
What was that? Ship a traditional laptop? You got it!

edit: (tongue in cheek poking fun at surface laptop... just to avoid confusion)
 
heatlesssun said:
It's probably a combination of both. Mobile OS tablets to this point haven't been able to replace laptops for general productivity and 2 in 1s sort of give you the best of both worlds.
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well the tablets that can are insanely expensive....
 
heatlesssun said:
The nicest and most powerful aren't cheap but there's a range of price points.
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I know but you know as well as I do that Baytrail tablets are more of media consumption devices... you really need an i3 or better with a min of 4GB ram and a speedy SSD and those are not cheap.
 
YeuEmMaiMai said:
I know but you know as well as I do that Baytrail tablets are more of media consumption devices... you really need an i3 or better with a min of 4GB ram and a speedy SSD and those are not cheap.
Click to expand...

The number one complaint I hear from customers using Microsoft based tablets with detachable keyboards is how they make poor laptops due to the stand being on the rear of the screen (ie: Tablet) - They just don't sit well in the users lap. The second highest complaint is the lack of ports and the need to use some form of dock in order to have even a mildly respectable number of inputs/outputs.

Expensive and limiting with poor upgradeability. Possibly, in time, consumers will catch on and iOS and Android tablet sales will once again rise for dedicated tablet usage along with an increase in the sales of real laptops for Windows usage. Especially now MS are filling their latest devices with resin.
 
BulletDust said:
The number one complaint I hear from customers using Microsoft based tablets with detachable keyboards is how they make poor laptops due to the stand being on the rear of the screen (ie: Tablet) - They just don't sit well in the users lap. The second highest complaint is the lack of ports and the need to use some form of dock in order to have even a mildly respectable number of inputs/outputs.
Click to expand...

There are various conversion techniques for Windows 2 in 1s and most aren't made by Microsoft. I would agree that the Surface Pro's kickstand solution doesn't work very well on the lap, however something like a Surface Book does though it is top heavy. That said, and I've said it many times, you shouldn't buy these kinds of devices generally unless you're planning to use them a significant portion of the time as tablets. I do understand that's not often not the case but if one does use these devices that way a significant portion of the time, they'll never want a conventional laptop again.
 
nutzo said:
This.

Why buy a 7" tablet, when you have a 6" phone?

Why buy a 10" tablet, when you can get a full laptop (that converts to a tablet) for about the same price.

The sales are being cannibalized from both sides.
Click to expand...

You underestimate how much an inch more mean to a lot of men...:p


Back on topic i do love having a small phone for jsut beeing a phoen.
calling texting skype. GPS and music.

But have a small tablet i can use for things that actually takes visuel input to use
web browsing. small games etc etc. easy entertainmnnets

and a laptop for medium dedicated work ( aka more input oriented than on tablet)

dekstop for gamming/long time works


But i guess its all works out because i just want a small phone to begin with... hmm
 
BulletDust said:
The number one complaint I hear from customers using Microsoft based tablets with detachable keyboards is how they make poor laptops due to the stand being on the rear of the screen (ie: Tablet) - They just don't sit well in the users lap. The second highest complaint is the lack of ports and the need to use some form of dock in order to have even a mildly respectable number of inputs/outputs.

Expensive and limiting with poor upgradeability. Possibly, in time, consumers will catch on and iOS and Android tablet sales will once again rise for dedicated tablet usage along with an increase in the sales of real laptops for Windows usage. Especially now MS are filling their latest devices with resin.
Click to expand...

A few the managers at my company have Dell 2 in 1's. They work like a regular Laptop, and have a USB-C Docking station so they can just plug in 1 cable to connect the network, monitor, etc.
When you fold the keyboard under, it becomes a tablet. It's a lot thicker than a simple tablet, but the form factor works much better for reading emails or watching a movie on a plane than a regular laptop.

The dual core CPU's, small screens (13.3) and smaller drives in these 2 in 1's don't work for many of our other traveling employees, as they need faster quad core CPUs, TB SSD's and larger 15" screens.
 
nutzo said:
A few the managers at my company have Dell 2 in 1's. They work like a regular Laptop, and have a USB-C Docking station so they can just plug in 1 cable to connect the network, monitor, etc.
When you fold the keyboard under, it becomes a tablet. It's a lot thicker than a simple tablet, but the form factor works much better for reading emails or watching a movie on a plane than a regular laptop.
Click to expand...

Which only really works where the device is primarily used at the docking station with very light use as a portable device. In situations where absolute portability is needed a dock is unrealistic, even in fixed desktop application the dock can be very problematic in the case of additional monitors where the dock contains it's own USB C powered GPU, scaling and driver issues become a real issue.

The concept of a 2 in 1 with limited connectivity appears great on the surface, get right into it however and the limitations of a 2 in 1 design with it's top heavy display and lack of inputs/outputs as opposed to a decently designed laptop make a well designed laptop look even more attractive. If you want touch, get an iPad, if you want portable and practical, get a decent laptop - Avoid a compromise of both unless you specifically need a Windows mobile 'touch device' as a tablet.
 
Well to be fair, people constantly complain about tablets being too thick so a standard UDB 3 port is out so they have to go with the mini option and that sucks to have to carry a bunch of cables/adapters around ironically Dell gave the Venue 11 Pro a *real* USB 3 port and peeps said it was too thick and that it did not have more than 1...lol cannot win. I like it because it also have full HDMI cable port so I can drop it in front of ANY TV that has a HDMI port and boom instant media player that is actually good... it also has good expandability in terms of what you can upgrade or add on... But alas, Dell KILLED IT WITH FIRE and replaced it with the Latitude that can run upwards of $2300... da fuq :eek:
 
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Its a combination of phones and 2in1 as mentioned. Certainly not just phones.

Tablets just falls between 2 chairs.
 
YeuEmMaiMai said:
Well to be fair, people constantly complain about tablets being too thick so a standard UDB 3 port is out so they have to go with the mini option and that sucks to have to carry a bunch of cables/adapters around ironically Dell gave the Venue 11 Pro a *real* USB 3 port and peeps said it was too thick and that it did not have more than 1...lol cannot win. I like it because it also have full HDMI cable port so I can drop it in front of ANY TV that has a HDMI port and boom instant media player that is actually good... it also has good expandability in terms of what you can upgrade or add on... But alas, Dell KILLED IT WITH FIRE and replaced it with the Latitude that can run upwards of $2300... da fuq :eek:
Click to expand...

The Dell XPS 13/15 lappy's are beautiful devices. I'd love one and they're sleek and thin, from my perspective one glaring fault is the lack of an ethernet port, I need an ethernet port if the device is to achieve its primary purpose as a work based tool. Sleek sometimes lacks practicality when it comes to an x64 PC based computing device that's supposed to be more practical than an ARM based tablet.
 
BulletDust said:
The Dell XPS 13/15 lappy's are beautiful devices. I'd love one and they're sleek and thin, from my perspective one glaring fault is the lack of an ethernet port, I need an ethernet port if the device is to achieve its primary purpose as a work based tool. Sleek sometimes lacks practicality when it comes to an x64 PC based computing device that's supposed to be more practical than an ARM based tablet.
Click to expand...


you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter but then again I would use a doc.
 
YeuEmMaiMai said:
you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter but then again I would use a doc.
Click to expand...

I lug my laptop from job to job, I'd loose the adapter. I find the reliance of adapters just to shave millimeters off the profile of a device very frustrating. I don't have a problem with adding 2mm to the profile of a device to have an Ethernet port with a drop down trapdoor, it's reaching the point where the integrity of the units are so compromised by their unnaturally sleek profiles that manufacturers are now filling them with resin to regain structural integrity.

Not to mention that repairs are almost impossible, ever tried repairing the USB port on a Surface Pro 3 without breaking the screen? If it's mobile, at some stage it's gonna require repairing, we're all only human and pretty clumsy at times.
 
When the iPad first launched (arguably the first tablet?), it had the neato factor going for it. I saw tons of executives clamoring for these devices. I think the appeal was the size & weight (but also - look, I have a shiny device because I'm important). Shortly afterwards, the people bought the cases with integrated keyboards. People were trying to use these like laptops.
I still see a few folks that are using iPads - I swear they seems to be fighting to make it work. I was using the newer (not latest) Macbook (I work in the smartphone development space so Mac's are logical choices since they can run Xcode) - weighs about 2 lbs, runs OS X, has full applications/enough CPU/enough memory/ok keyboard/fantastic trackpad. If I were using an Ultrabook running Windows, I'd have a similar experience.
Did I mention the Macbook I was using is about the same price as an iPad Pro? No way in hell I'd trade a laptop for a tablet.
The other factor to consider with tablets - they kind of lost the "neato" factor. Everyone has seen them. They don't do much your phone doesn't (actually, they do less.!) So, if you are a consumer with a fixed budget, I think you'll spend your money on a phone. If you are a business, you are looking at managing and supporting devices. What software is available? Who is using the tablets? An executive might get a few custom apps to view reports (I've been on a few projects where just the CEO gets an app). I won't judge if it's justified or not.
 
BulletDust said:
There's not a lot of interest in Apple tablets either, with a decline of 13% as opposed to Samsung as the top tier Android tablet supplier at a decline of 1.1%.

http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS42520917
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When your old iPad does everything you want, maybe a bit slower, why would you want to pay $500+ to upgrade again? I have a Galaxy Tab S2 I got for free and I don't think I'll be getting a different tablet anytime soon. There just isn't a real reason to upgrade them IMO. I see no point in the iPad Pro.
 
-Strelok- said:
When your old iPad does everything you want, maybe a bit slower, why would you want to pay $500+ to upgrade again? I have a Galaxy Tab S2 I got for free and I don't think I'll be getting a different tablet anytime soon. There just isn't a real reason to upgrade them IMO. I see no point in the iPad Pro.
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Still running a Nexus 9 here with the Pure Nexus ROM, fantastic device and I have no plans to upgrade it any time soon. Replying on my N9 as we speak.

It's the same with desktop PC's, you no longer have to upgrade every two years due to technological advancements so people hold on to what they have for far longer. My 2700k @ 5ghz is still a reasonable powerhouse of a system considering its age.
 
steakman1971 said:
When the iPad first launched (arguably the first tablet?), it had the neato factor going for it. I saw tons of executives clamoring for these devices. I think the appeal was the size & weight (but also - look, I have a shiny device because I'm important). Shortly afterwards, the people bought the cases with integrated keyboards. People were trying to use these like laptops.
I still see a few folks that are using iPads - I swear they seems to be fighting to make it work. I was using the newer (not latest) Macbook (I work in the smartphone development space so Mac's are logical choices since they can run Xcode) - weighs about 2 lbs, runs OS X, has full applications/enough CPU/enough memory/ok keyboard/fantastic trackpad. If I were using an Ultrabook running Windows, I'd have a similar experience.
Did I mention the Macbook I was using is about the same price as an iPad Pro? No way in hell I'd trade a laptop for a tablet.
The other factor to consider with tablets - they kind of lost the "neato" factor. Everyone has seen them. They don't do much your phone doesn't (actually, they do less.!) So, if you are a consumer with a fixed budget, I think you'll spend your money on a phone. If you are a business, you are looking at managing and supporting devices. What software is available? Who is using the tablets? An executive might get a few custom apps to view reports (I've been on a few projects where just the CEO gets an app). I won't judge if it's justified or not.
Click to expand...

I see plenty of people running iPads, perhaps not so much the overpriced pro, but the iPad air 2 is still a great product. People run tablets to get away from the issues of desktop operating systems, so in many cases the MacBook isn't even a consideration. The issue is people are holding on to them for longer as there's just no need for the constant upgrades anymore.
 
The difference between a big phone and a tablet is non existent except maybe that the phone has to be 4g and the tablet can be wifi only.
 
I'd rather watch videos and read books on my iPad Pro than on any phone. Of course, that's about all I do with my iPad Pro.
 
Hypergreatthing said:
The difference between a big phone and a tablet is non existent except maybe that the phone has to be 4g and the tablet can be wifi only.
Click to expand...

That's why nobody wants an android tablet. At least with an overpriced Apple tablet you can get an app designed for the form factor instead of a blown up Android phone app which is appallingly bad to use.
 
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