IDC: Tablet shipments fell 4.4 percent in the third quarter

The American research company recalled that the decline occurred for the first time in six quarters, while demand remained stable in emerging markets.

The American Apple maintained its leading role in the global tablet market in July-September It shipped 13.2 million tablets, a 5.2 percent year-on-year increase.

South Korea’s Samsung remains in second place despite its shipments falling 1.9 percent to 6.9 million devices.

China’s Lenovo, third on the list, increased its shipments by 22.6 percent to 3.7 million, partly due to the launch of the new XiaoxinPad model.

Fourth-place Huawei increased its shipments by 3.7 percent to 3.4 million tablets. The company’s shipments in China fell while they grew in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

Also Chinese Xiaomi ranked fifth in the quarter ending in September with 2.5 million units shipped, a 7.2 percent increase compared to the third quarter of last year.

All other manufacturers shipped a total of 8.3 million tablets, down 28 percent from the third quarter of last year.

Apple’s market share increased to 34.7 percent in the third quarter of this year from 31.6 percent a year earlier. Samsung’s share rose from 17.8 percent to 18.3 percent, while Lenovo’s improved from 7.5 percent to 9.7 percent.

Huawei’s market share changed from 8.2 percent to 8.9 percent, and Xiaomi’s from 5.9 percent to 6.7 percent.

All other manufacturers’ market share fell to 21.8 percent from 29 percent in the third quarter of last year.