CHART: Tablets make a bold comeback in 2024 as Chinese brands lead global market shift
While Apple remained the undisputed leader, find out which Chinese brands led the market.
It wasn’t long ago that tablets seemed to be fading into tech obscurity, squeezed between the convenience of smartphones and the raw power of laptops. But the gadget that was once treated as a sidekick has proven it's far from ready for retirement. Against all odds, it’s found a way to reinvent itself in 2024.
In the year, global tablet shipments made an unexpected comeback, driven by a perfect storm of commercial demand, government-backed digital initiatives, and aggressive moves by Chinese brands. Suddenly, the device that once seemed destined for the sidelines is central again to conversations about the future of personal computing.
Numbers from Canalys showed a robust 5.6% year-on-year growth in Q4 alone, with 39.9 million units shipped. By the end of the year, the total hit 147.6 million units, marking a 9.2% jump compared to 2023. Growth was widespread, with all regions showing gains except North America, which lagged behind.
