A new report from NPD DisplaySearch predicts that shipments of tablets that are between 7 to 7.9 inches in size will begin to lose market share compared to larger tablet products, thanks in part to competition from larger smartphones.
The report notes that in 2013, shipments of smaller tablets took up 58 percent of the total market. However, that percentage is expected to go down, with NPD predicting that hardware companies will put more of their tablet focus on products that are between 8 and 10.9 inches. NPD believes that shipments of the larger tablets will overtake the smaller ones in terms of market share by 2018.
Samsung recently noted in its latest quarterly financial report that "higher shipments of 5-to-6 inch large screen smartphones replaced demands for 7-to-8 inch tablets." A few weeks ago, it announced a partnership with Barnes and Noble to launch a Nook-branded version of the seven-inch Galaxy Tab 4.
NPD's report adds that tablets that are 11 inches or more, are expected to take up 10 percent of the total tablet market by 2018. Hisakazu Torii, vice president of smart application research at NPD DisplaySearch, stated, "The increase in screen sizes will help increase tablet PC revenues."
NPD has lowered its 2014 tablet shipment forecast to 285 million units worldwide, with the firm blaming the delayed launches of new products as part of the reason for their adjustments.
Source: NPD DisplaySearch
