Canalys: Tablet shipments hit all-time high in Q4 2020

29 January 2021
Makers shipped 52.8 million tablets between October and December - a 54% increase on a yearly basis.

Sort by:

  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • JF2
  • 30 Jan 2021

Anonymous, 29 Jan 2021For phones Android is the best. Otherwise Windows is the best.Tab s5e. One third of the weight of a Microsoft tabs' weight (i.e. a true tablet), way better screen, and above all support a desktop OS (linux on dex) in which I do everything a Windows user would but better (desktop firefox/chrome plugins, running mini servers, latex programs and more).

Sure, Samsung gave up on it due to their "exclusive" collab with Microsoft (DeX on Windows?). Still nothing beats it. Way better hardware (for tablet use) from anything Microsoft, way more powerful software than that of an ipad (a true desktop at the press of a button, one that is touch friendly).

Only issue is that I have to sideload the security updates because Samsung do/did not want to compete with their new partner (Microsoft).

Kind of funny that almost no-one knows about that little tablet despite being 5 to 10 years ahead of anything else. I literally run everything on it and now that it is part of my every day it feels weird to not be able to boot linux or (on the Microsoft side) to have to carry 2+ lbs behemoths. IMO anything more than 400 grams is useless as a tablet, better buy a laptop at that point.

The ideal tablet is/should be day long battery (i.e. more than 9 hours screen on, S5e is there), powerful (unfortunately the S5e is not there , midranger, the 6Gigs of Ram and 1tb of storage that I have installed is almost there, but not exactly. I would have given anything to have been able to upgrade the ram, 8gigs are good , however 16 should be the new minimum for 2in1s. Only Microsoft tabs are there) and lastly hugely portable despite a relatively big screen ( 400 grams the absolute max, 250-300 ideally. The S5e is there ... barely). Being able to run desktop apps that are touch friendly (Most non Microsoft tabs are not there, S5e fortunately is).

The s5e ticks 3 out of the 4 requirements for the mother of all tablets. Microsoft only two (powerful and desktop use), ipad only 1 (powerful) and most run of the mill androids do not even tick one of them, or one at the most.

I blame Jobs' death for the sorry situation that Tablets are in. He envisioned them replacing PC and to me it mostly did (only use a PC when I need true power, which is not often given that I can VPN to it), but that's only because I found the one tablet that could do that. Jobs had the vision to make *all* tablets like that. Of course he would have changed only iPads (towards that direction), possibly replacing the mac line with them (eventually), but the rest would sure follow.

It would have been a revolution, unfortunately his untimely death made most be struck with the ridiculousness that using a laptop, still 30 years after they became popular, is. They are ok with that too, using a 20th century tech, lolz.

Eventually, inevitably, tabs will bury all other form factors. But I speculate that phones need to be as big as them and basically merge with them for that to happen (i.e. foldables), so give it another decade for solid options... we ,literally lost 20 years of serious development because Jobs died in 2011 instead of living another decade or two... that is how important some individuals are to the history of tech.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 6wN
    • 29 Jan 2021

    YUKI93, 29 Jan 2021That is why I use a Windows tablet instead of Android or iP... moreFor phones Android is the best. Otherwise Windows is the best.

      • D
      • AnonD-973296
      • GYi
      • 29 Jan 2021

      Shellyman Infinity, 29 Jan 2021And Chrome OS devices.and MacOS

        • w
        • well
        • 0x%
        • 29 Jan 2021

        Since phone sizes keep growing and soon will reach tablets, suddenly the differences start to blur.

          YUKI93, 29 Jan 2021That is why I use a Windows tablet instead of Android or iP... moreAnd Chrome OS devices.

            Chromebook Duet is doing good numbers for Lenovo. We need more Chrome OS tablets!

              AXZz-D, 29 Jan 2021Tablets are apselutely terrible for online classes tho That is why I use a Windows tablet instead of Android or iPadOS tablets. For office work and online classes, Windows 10 is still the best option since it's no different than using a Windows desktop or laptop at all.

                Anonymous, 29 Jan 2021But the real question is.... Will it pass the bend test? As thin as it is, i don't think so. Owned 4 different iPads and never had any problem with it

                Here is Samsung Tab S5e bend test, see how easily it bends? Why? Because it's a really thin like iPad https://youtu.be/_9SNUl9JQlM

                  • T
                  • ThereOnceWasAMuffin
                  • 3Ea
                  • 29 Jan 2021

                  Cerberus91, 29 Jan 2021Majority buy tablets for meetings and online classes and it... moreI've purchased the Huawei MatePad 10.4" (no GMS) for my Fall semester courses & it works wonders! Our classes use primarly Zoom which require no GMS. Furthermore, screen-on-time (SOT) & battery life are superb for lengthy class sessions & can last me easily 2 days on a single charge. The missing apps can be easily accrued as .apks so no problems there. YouTube? Got NewPipe which has zero ads. So No! This tablet isn't "useless". Ye just need to know a workaround & that's it.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • Mkm
                    • 29 Jan 2021

                    -Trix-, 29 Jan 2021March and new iPad Pro can't come fast enough!But the real question is.... Will it pass the bend test?

                      Cerberus91, 29 Jan 2021Majority buy tablets for meetings and online classes and it... moreTablets are apselutely terrible for online classes tho

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • D0d
                        • 29 Jan 2021

                        So when is Xiaomi or Oppo or anyone going to ever make a tablet again, it's atleast 6 years ago they made tablet, which is crazy.

                          Cerberus91, 29 Jan 2021Majority buy tablets for meetings and online classes and it... moreMajority of those sales propably came from China? I don't know anyone who have ever owned Huawei tablet.

                            Majority buy tablets for meetings and online classes and it required Google Services like Google Meet. So getting Huawei tablet is totally useless😂😂

                              March and new iPad Pro can't come fast enough!