Are smartphones killing tablets?

[pcslookout]

What do you think ?

 

[cbrunny]

Smartphones are making tablets better.

 

[pcslookout]

Smartphones are making tablets better.

How?

 

[cbrunny]

How?

Development of mobile hardware technology. Development of mobile software/os. Development of apps. Development of seamless linkages between different technologies. Development of the cloud/online file storage. Development of mobile security technologies.

etc.

 

[boomhower]

No. A sub six inch screen does not replace a 10" tablet. Now if you are using a Nexus 7 or iPad Mini and buy a Note or 6+ then I can see it.

 

[pcslookout]

No. A sub six inch screen does not replace a 10" tablet. Now if you are using a Nexus 7 or iPad Mini and buy a Note or 6+ then I can see it.

That is what I mean.

 

[boomhower]

That is what I mean.

Then my answer stands. Could they be costing a very small percentage of sales? Certainly. Killing them? No way.

 

[cbrunny]

That is what I mean.

Question is way too vague then. If you're talking market share/frequency of use, that's a lot different than "killing" a product line entirely.

Maybe something like "Owners of phablet style smartphones, do you find that you use a tablet less than 10 inches in size less frequently than you did prior to getting a phablet?"

Seems that's what you mean?

 

[Oyeve]

Tablets are killing tablets because, well, tablets basically are useless. They replace nothing, they are mere consumption devices. We need more laptop/tablet hybrids. Tablets are not a laptop replacement gadget. They are toys not tools.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Tablets are killing tablets because, well, tablets basically are useless. They replace nothing, they are mere consumption devices.

Which is fine in some cases. I use my tablet every day. Gets me a ssh terminal as good as any "tool" I have.

Sales are dropping because the market isn't propped up by subsidies so people are waiting longer than phones to replace devices. But it doesn't mean that tablets are dying or that they don't have a place. Often convertibles and 2in1s are just crappy laptops and tablets at the same time. I would rather have a great laptop AND a great tablet than try to smash them together in an awkward compromise.

OP not all people want phablets. The Nexus 6 sales are really poor for example, while the Nexus 5 was the most successful phone Nexus.

 

[jhu]

Tablet market has reached saturation. That doesn't mean it's a dying market.

 

[lxskllr]

Tablets are killing tablets because, well, tablets basically are useless. They replace nothing, they are mere consumption devices. We need more laptop/tablet hybrids. Tablets are not a laptop replacement gadget. They are toys not tools.

^^^This. I had almost no use for a tablet, and that went to absolute zero when I got a phone. If my phone isn't sufficient for a task, I'll use a real computer.

 

[Oyeve]

I have several tabs. Samsung Tab 2, Samsung Tab Pro 8.4, ipad 2 and ipad 4. as well as my old asus tf101 and a Memo HD 7. They are all (with the exeption of the Tab Pro 8.4) collecting dust. Hell, even my 20 year old old son doesnt want them. He has an S4 and is happy with it. And the only thing I do on the Tab Pro is watch netflix, HBO go and other cable TV apps just to catch up on shows and i only use it when I am about to sleep. The ipads I only use so if one on my remote ipad users has a problem I test with it but no, I just dont utilize them at all. My laptop is a 15" asus zen with touch screen and I use that 90% of the time or boot up my main PC at home (gaming).

 

[corkyg]

Can't speak for anyone else, but my smartphone will never be adequate for real work . . . too small.

 

[core2slow]

No, simply because its an excellent terminal/RDP tool.

 

[blairharrington]

I remember hearing on a podcast that many people in Asia can't afford both a tablet and smartphone, so they elect instead for a phablet, and hence why they are so popular in that region.

Nilay Patel tried to proclaim in his iPhone 6 Plus review that the 6 Plus negated the need for an iPad Mini. I completely disagree with this notion. A phablet may cause (some) users to ditch their 8" tablet, but the tablet is still a more pleasurable movie/TV viewing experience, plus it goes without saying that if you like to read books or magazines digitally, a tablet will offer the superior experience.

I sold my iPad Mini last week and bought a MBA for a few reasons. It had nothing to do with the fact that I now use a phablet as my daily driver.

I certainly can see phablets cannibalizing (some) 8" tablet sales. But the 10" tablet experience is something entirely different and won't be affected much by smartphone sales.

 

[dainthomas]

I read all my magazines on my 10" Tab4 and I love it. The tablet is just about the size of an actual magazine page. Ever try reading National Geographic on a Note4?

 

[Oyeve]

I read all my magazines on my 10" Tab4 and I love it. The tablet is just about the size of an actual magazine page. Ever try reading National Geographic on a Note4?

No, I read an actual NG mag.

 

[Artdeco]

I think they are impacting sales, and just food for thought, there's not a lot of profit in small tablet sales.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Smartphones are certainly playing a big part. But I think the manufactures are failing to deliver quality tablets that people would want.

I think Apple has been doing a great job. But iPad sales are slowing down and I think part of that is just because the iPads are so freaking good, that people can go two or even three years with their current iPads now before feeling the need to upgrade. And there are people that just don't like Apple or iOS or iTunes, so stay away from them.

And unfortunately outside of the iPads, there hasn't been any consistency and very little quality. Most manufactures have shifted their focus away from premium tablets to sub $200 pieces of garbage. Samsung released some semi-premium tablets last year, but cut corners on the processor. While ironically there were many $150 tablets with Atoms inside them outperforming Samsung's $500 flagship offers with Exynos inside.

And then we get the HTC built Nexus 9, with premium pricing and corner cutting build quality.

The state of Android tablets makes me want to cry. Nobody wants to buy this crap.

Windows tablets and 2-in-1s are getting more interesting though. The Asus T200, T300 Chi, Aspire Switch 10 and 11, Surface 3, are all pretty decent tablets that become laptops, pretty good performance from the Atom processors now. They are getting pretty light (but still not quite iPad/Android tablet light yet). If Windows 10 can attract developers, then I think we might see a surge in these 2-in-1 devices.

 

[stlc8tr]

I read all my magazines on my 10" Tab4 and I love it. The tablet is just about the size of an actual magazine page. Ever try reading National Geographic on a Note4?

Yup. Tablets are so much better than phones/phablets for reading magazines and comics.

Unless they come out with a 8" phablet, that is.

 

[Muadib]

Older tablets are killing the tablets of today, not phones. There is no need to upgrade my old tablet, because it does 95% of what I need it to do. Call me crazy, put I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Most people I know upgrade their phones every 2 years. Tablets? Why upgrade your tablet? I see no need for that, yet...

 

[Commodus]

Yeah, the upgrade cycle is a big part of it. People replace their phones every two years because of contracts, heavy use and features you may appreciate when you're out (such as better cameras). Tablets are more like PCs -- something you bought three years ago is probably still capable of doing the menial tasks you ask of it, even if it's a bit old in the tooth.

There is some overlap between big phones and tablets, but I don't think phones are destroying tablets outright... just scooping sales for fence-sitters who aren't sure if they really want a small tablet.

 

[JimmiG]

Yeah, the upgrade cycle is a big part of it. People replace their phones every two years because of contracts, heavy use and features you may appreciate when you're out (such as better cameras). Tablets are more like PCs -- something you bought three years ago is probably still capable of doing the menial tasks you ask of it, even if it's a bit old in the tooth.

There is some overlap between big phones and tablets, but I don't think phones are destroying tablets outright... just scooping sales for fence-sitters who aren't sure if they really want a small tablet.

I agree, and also I think we're at the point where the same thing is happening to smartphones. If you're just using your phone for messaging, facebook, web browsing etc., a Galaxy S4 from 2013 will still be perfectly adequate today. Also, with prices dropping, there's no longer a need to lock yourself into an expensive, long-term contract to acquire a decent smartphone. You can just go and pick up a $180 Moto G or even a $130 Moto E and they'll be fine. Then if you want a second, bigger screen, go pick up a $150 tablet.

 

[amyklai]

IMO, there are 3 factors at play:

- many people use tablets for activities that still work well on iPad 3-era hardware (some web browsing, reading, email).
- tablets don't get as much wear and tear as smartphones, so the "I want a new device because my old one is scratched / battered / broken" doesn't happen as often
- and, most importantly: tablets usually aren't sold on subsidized contracts that automatically get you a new device every 2 years.