Essential Insights into Modern Tablet Devices
This article provides key facts about tablets, highlighting their history, market leaders, shipment trends, and innovative features. Despite declining popularity due to smartphones, tablets remain crucial with advanced functionalities like speech recognition and sensors, shaping modern mobile technology. The piece also discusses shipment forecasts and device sizes, offering a comprehensive overview for tech enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.
Over recent years, multifunctional tablets with touchscreens and operating systems gained popularity worldwide. However, their dominance is waning as smartphone technology advances. The shift towards mobile phones has contributed to a decline in tablet usage. Here are key facts about tablets everyone should know.
Worldwide, approximately 1.1 billion people use tablets
The first touchscreen tablet, the iPad, was launched by Apple in 2010
By 2017, Apple had sold over 360 million iPads globally
Apple continues to lead the global tablet market with high shipment volumes
Android OS now leads the tablet operating system market
Last year, Apple sold more than 40 million iPads
Major vendors include Samsung, Amazon, RIM, and Hewlett-Packard
Worldwide tablet shipments are projected to surpass 170 million units
In early 2017, about 36.2 million tablets were shipped globally
By 2020, medium-sized tablets (9-13 inches) are expected to outsell smaller ones (7-9 inches)
Modern tablets now incorporate numerous innovative features beyond basic touchscreens.
Advanced features such as speech recognition, accelerometers, and character recognition have transformed tablets. Speech recognition debuted with Google's Android in 2009, expanding to 40 languages. Accelerometers detect device orientation, enhancing user experience and gameplay. Additionally, technologies like ambient light sensors, gesture controls, and near-field communication continue to evolve, making modern tablets powerful and versatile tools.
