Global tablet shipments jumped over 26 percent from the year before in the second quarter to 37.542 million, boosted by lockdown measures forcing people to stay at home, plus more affordable access to basic computing power and larger screens, according to the latest study from Canalys. Vendors in general were able to ramp up their production to meet the increased demand while retailers and carriers encouraged purchases in various markets by providing financial incentives on devices and data. The world’s top five tablet vendors all benefited from the surge, all posting double-digit growth and reaching shipment levels usually associated with the end of year holiday season. 

Apple leads market, Lenovo grows most

Apple grew iPad shipments by 20 percent to lead the market again, shipping more than 14 million units, a record for a Q2. The company’s market share went lower however to 38 percent from 40 percent year-on-year.  

Samsung maintained its second-place position, shipping 7 million units (+39%). Its market share rose to 18.7 percent from 17 percent. In third place, Huawei shipments soared almost 45 percent to 4.7 million units, thanks to a particularly strong performance in Western Europe. The company’s market share lifted to 12.7 percent from 11.1 percent. 

Shipments from Amazon, in fourth place, advanced 37 percent to 3.16 million, taking its market share higher to 8.4 percent from 7.8 percent. Lenovo, leader of the overall PC market, rounded off the top five, with shipments rising the fastest at 53 percent to 2.81 million units, and its market share growing to 7.5 percent from 6.2 percent. 

The shipments of other tablet vendors went up by a smaller 2.7 percent to 5.52 million units, with the total market share falling to 14.7 percent form 18.1 percent. 

Growth slower for overall PC market

Looking at the overall PC market, including tablets, shipments went up by 14.3 percent to 110.508 million. Lenovo topped the vendor chart, with shipments rising 11.6 percent to 20.20 million units. Its market share dipped slightly to 18.3 percent from 18.7 percent. Apple came next, with shipments climbing 17.9 percent to 19.60 million units and its market share going higher to 17.7 percent from 17.2 percent. 

At HP in third place, shipments increased by 17.4 percent to almost 18.14 million units, with its market share going higher to 16.4 percent from 16.0 percent. Dell shipments were up 3.3 percent to 12.08 million, while its market share dipped lower to 10.9 percent from 12.1 percent. Samsung in fifth place saw shipments lift 11.8 percent to 7.53 million units, with its market share rising to 6.8 percent from 5.5 percent. 

Other vendors shipped 32.95 million units (+11.8%), with their total market share sliding to 29.8 percent from 30.5 percent.