The overall worldwide tablet computer sales have been hit low for three and half years according to Strategy Analytics, a U.S.-based market research firm. The global tablet PC sales fell to 46.5 million units in the first quarter of 2016, a 10 percent drop from the same period a year ago (51.9 million units shipped)
This was the first time for the world's quarterly tablet computer sales to fall to mid-40 million unit level since the third quarter of 2012.
The overall worldwide tablet sales have been hit low by several reasons. Many people buy big-screened smartphones as an alternative instead of buying tablet. Many tablet owners share their tablet with family members. New tablets don’t offer enough new features.
Major tablet PC makers like Apple and Samsung also suffered sluggish sales. Apple recorded about 20-percent decline to 10.3 million units, while Samsung suffered a 26-percent setback to 6.5 million units.
However, tablets that come with detachable keyboards upped their shipments of more than 4.9 million units last quarter. It is 120 percent gain from the same period last year and all-time high for tablets with detachable keyboards.
