Global Tablet Shipments Fall 10 percent in Q2 2026 as Component Shortages Push Up Prices: Omdia

The global tablet market weakened in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments falling 10 per cent year-on-year to around 36 million units, according to research firm Omdia. The decline came as manufacturers faced continued component shortages while consumers became more cautious about spending because of higher device prices.

The drop was particularly notable because the April-June quarter typically benefits from seasonal demand linked to back-to-school purchases. However, tablet shipments failed to grow sequentially, suggesting that both supply constraints and weaker purchasing sentiment are weighing on the market. Omdia expects these challenges to persist through the rest of 2026, with affordable tablets likely to face the greatest pressure as manufacturers struggle to secure components.

Despite the slowdown, the research firm does not believe consumer interest in tablets has disappeared. Tablets continue to be widely used in households, schools and some business environments. Larger-screen devices remain useful for entertainment and everyday computing, while detachable tablets are increasingly being considered as alternatives to conventional laptops for certain tasks.

Omdia believes the current decline is largely the result of market conditions rather than a fundamental change in consumer behaviour. Limited component availability has reduced supplies of lower-cost devices, while rising prices have encouraged some buyers to delay purchases or hold on to existing tablets for longer. The supply situation could also influence the types of tablets manufacturers choose to produce. With components in short supply, vendors are expected to give greater priority to premium and flagship models, which generally provide better margins. This could make entry-level tablets less widely available and potentially push average selling prices higher.

Apple continued to lead the global tablet market during the quarter despite seeing its shipments fall by around 8 per cent year-on-year. The company shipped approximately 13.5 million iPads worldwide, giving it a 38 per cent share of the market. The standard iPad accounted for most of Apple's shipments, while the iPad Air and iPad mini contributed smaller volumes. Samsung remained in second place, shipping close to 6 million tablets during the quarter. Its shipments declined 13 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier. Omdia expects Samsung to adjust its product mix as component shortages continue, with greater emphasis likely to be placed on higher-margin models.

Lenovo was the standout performer among the major tablet manufacturers. Its shipments increased 27 per cent year-on-year, making it the only leading vendor to record growth during the quarter. Omdia said the increase was supported by actual consumer demand, while additional shipments to distribution channels ahead of expected price increases and major promotional events also helped boost the company's numbers. Xiaomi ranked fourth among the leading tablet vendors after shipping around 2.8 million units, representing a 7 per cent annual decline. The company continued to benefit from strong demand in China and steady growth in parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Huawei completed the top five, with shipments of approximately 2.7 million units, down 16 per cent from the previous year. Its tablet business remains largely concentrated in China, with limited availability in overseas markets.

The weakness in the wider personal computing market was also visible in the Chromebook segment. Omdia reported declining shipments as budget and education-focused devices faced increasing cost pressures. Memory has become a particularly significant part of the bill of materials for inexpensive Chromebooks, making the segment more vulnerable to supply and pricing challenges. Lenovo remained the largest Chromebook supplier, although its shipments slipped 3 per cent year-on-year to about 1.76 million units. The decline was largely linked to the completion of the first phase of Japan's GIGA 2.0 School Program, where Lenovo had been a major supplier.

Acer followed with 1.18 million units, down 4 per cent from a year earlier. Demand in North America and some market-share gains from HP helped support its performance. HP ranked third, with shipments falling 13 per cent to approximately 1.15 million units amid relatively weaker institutional demand in the education sector. Asus was the strongest performer in the Chromebook market. Its shipments jumped 66 per cent year-on-year to around 749,000 units, lifting its market share from 8 per cent to 16 per cent. Omdia attributed the increase to Asus's involvement in Japan's GIGA 2.0 programme, the US K–12 education replacement cycle and retailers building stock ahead of the back-to-school season.

Dell, meanwhile, recorded a sharp 47 per cent decline in Chromebook shipments, which fell to around 465,000 units. Omdia said weaker education demand has been an important factor behind the Chromebook slowdown. Some vendors are also placing less emphasis on the category because of its comparatively low profitability. The year-on-year comparison has been made more difficult by the unusually strong education-related shipments recorded during the same period in 2025.

Some previously planned education deployments have also been delayed in 2026, further reducing Chromebook volumes. Omdia expects the global tablet market to remain under pressure for the rest of the year. Component shortages, higher prices and delayed purchases are likely to continue affecting shipments, particularly in the budget segment. Manufacturers may increasingly concentrate their limited supplies on premium devices while exploring services, artificial intelligence features and new use cases to create additional sources of growth. The latest figures suggest that the tablet market is not necessarily losing its relevance. Instead, the industry is navigating a difficult period in which supply limitations and rising costs are influencing both what manufacturers produce and when consumers choose to buy.