Huawei is now the world’s fourth-largest tablet maker

Huawei has secured a spot among the top 5 global tablet manufacturers in Q3 2024, according to a new report by IDC. It’s a significant milestone for the Chinese tech giant which recorded a 44.1% year-on-year growth in the global tablet market during the quarter.

Huawei shipped a total of 3.3 million tablets in Q3 to capture 8.2% of the global market share. This achievement, according to IDC, comes after a concentrated effort to diversify their tablet offerings. The company launched several models over the past nine months, catering to both budget-conscious users and professionals.

More specifically, the MatePad SE 11, with its competitive pricing, seems to have resonated with consumers globally. 

“Huawei’s entry into the top 5 is a noteworthy development in the tablet market,” commented Anuroopa Natraj, Senior Research Analyst at IDC. 

“Their aggressive pricing and focus on value-driven products have clearly attracted new customers, and their success suggests that consumers are increasingly seeking alternatives in this space.”

Apple still reigns…

Apple remains the leader in the tablet space with 12.6 million units shipped and a 1.4% YoY increase. However, their flagship iPad Pro struggled to gain traction due to its premium price point. Conversely, the “Back to School” promotion boosted sales of the iPad Air, contributing to Apple’s market share of 31.8%.  

Samsung takes the second spot with 7.1 million units shipped, capturing 17.9% of the market share. The company’s cost-effective Galaxy A9 tablet reportedly performed well in most regions.

Amazon and Lenovo rounded out the top 5, shipping 4.6 million and 3 million units, respectively. Notably, the global tablet market itself experienced a healthy 20.4% growth during Q3, with total shipments reaching 39.6 million units.  

Looking ahead, Natraj predicts that “recent innovations in AI will continue to influence consumer purchasing decisions.” As AI features and applications become more commonplace in tablets, users may be willing to invest in devices offering these advanced features.