Lions’ Share
Samsung Electronics achieved its highest-ever market share in the global tablet PC market in the first quarter of 2014 at 22.6 percent.
America’s market research company Strategy Analytics (SA) announced on May 13 that based on the first quarter tablet PC sales compilation, the local tech giant grabbed a 22.6 percent global market share by selling 12.8 million units.
This marks the highest market share ever for the company since it started the tablet PC business. It also means that one out of four tablet PCs that were sold in the global market was a Samsung product.
Apple kept is number one spot with 28.9 percent in market share by selling 16.4 million units, but saw a big drop of either 40.3 percent from the same period last year or 33.7 percent from the final quarter last year.
Therefore, the market share gap between the two archrivals narrowed to 6.3 percentage points from 21.4 percentage points from the same period last year, heralding head-to-head competition.
It can be predicted that the gap between the two will consistently close, considering the market share differences were 28.8 percent and 14.3 percent in 2012 and 2013.
By region, Apple was more predominant in North America, West Europe, and Asia Pacific, while Samsung Electronics was leading in Central and Latin America, Mid-East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
In all regions, the local company’s first quarter market share was higher than its annual market share last year, while Apple saw a drop in its first quarter market share from last year’s annual market share in all regions.
However, for tablet PCs, since mature markets are larger such as in North America, West Europe, and Asia Pacific, Apple could record higher sales.
SA judged, “In the first quarter this year, only Samsung Electronics and Lenovo saw growth. It was disappointing for the rest of the major tablet PC manufacturers.” It further predicted, “Samsung Electronics grew 40 percent year-on-year, on the back of offering a wide range of tablet products that can satisfy diverse customers’ tastes, and it will keep narrowing its market share gap with Apple.”