According to recent market data from ABI Research, the installed base of tablets will decrease for the first time in 2016 as growth from first-time buyers shifts to replacement purchases.

“The global installed base of branded tablets will peak around 373 million units at the close of 2015,” said Jeff Orr, research director. “Led by North America at 48% of the installed base, the operating system mix is expected to be more balanced with 50% powered by Android, while 42% will use iOS.”

With a slowdown in first-time tablet purchases, change in the tablet installed base figures is expected for four key reasons: customers replacing tablets with tablets, customers replacing tablets with phone tablets (phablets), customers replacing tablets with 2-in-1 ultraportable PCs, and customers making no replacement purchase.

The customers’ experience with first-generation tablets greatly influences what they will purchase the second time around. Unique apps and content, usability, and durability all play a role in the decision-making process. Phablets are a converged solution that combines the best of the smartphone (mobility and cellular voice service) with the larger display of a tablet. Phablets are an increasing percentage of smartphone shipments and are a mobile alternative to replacing a tablet.

For small business owners looking to maintain the productivity of a PC with the mobility of a tablet, choices for 2-in-1 systems are increasing and now available with Windows 10 OS. Not all tablets will be replaced. Some get handed down or resold, while others stop working or go unused in favor of performing activities on some other device.

 For more information, call (516) 624-2500 or visit www.abiresearch.com.