| Cult of Mac

iPad is a bright spot in weak post-pandemic tablet market

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iPad Air 5
iPad Air 5 brought a big surge of sale in Q2 2022, which made Q2 2023 look weak.
Photo: Apple

Although people are still buying millions of iPads, the numbers are down compared to where they were during the pandemic.

Still, Apple is doing a much better job of selling tablets than any of its rivals. During the second quarter of this year, it shipped about twice as many as any other company, according to a pair of market research firms.

Inflation deflates iPad sales

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iPad (10th gen) came out with several new features and a higher price tag than before.
iPad 10 didn't bring a surge in sales in the March 2023 quarter.
Photo: Apple

iPad shipments dropped by double digits in the first quarter of 2023, according to two different market-analysts firms. But Apple’s tablet was hardly alone — the entire global market dropped nearly 20%. As a result, iPad held on to its huge lead over its rivals.

The analysts blamed the decline in global shipments on inflation as well as a post-pandemic reduction in demand for tablets.

iPad shipments shoot through the roof

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To celebrate Juneteenth, artist Ajuan Mance is revisiting “The Ancestors’ Juneteenth,” a series that depicts historical Black figures in present-day settings.
iPad had a good 2022.
Photo: Apple

Apple made almost half the tablets sold in the word during the December quarter, according to market researchers.

The company itself says it took in more revenue from iPad sales in the October-through-December period than in any previous quarter.

iPad shipments hurt by launch delays

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The new Magic Keyboard Folio is made exclusively for the 10th-gen iPad.
Apple's decision to launch iPad 10 in October reduced Q3 tablet shipments.
Photo: Apple

iPad shipments declined during the September quarter, but Apple blames the drop on launching the latest models in October, a month later than usual.

This is only the latest problem to bedevil iPad in 2022.

Huge jump in Mac revenue propels Apple to another record-breaking quarter

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Apple MacBook cash dollars money
A 25% increase in Mac sales helped Apple beat analysts' expectations during the September quarter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple pulled in record revenue during the July-through-September quarter: $90.1 billion, an increase of 8% over the same period of last year. That’s $1.29 in earnings per share, a 4% annual bump. Most of Apple’s signature products experienced revenue growth.

“Our record September quarter results continue to demonstrate our ability to execute effectively in spite of a challenging and volatile macroeconomic backdrop,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO.

Apple still can’t keep up with iPad demand

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Brydge 11 Max+ keyboard case is built for hardcore iPad Pro users
There's plenty of demand for tablets as low-cost alternatives to traditional computers.
Photo: Brydge

iPad shipments declined modestly in the Q2 2022, but not because people don’t want Apple tablets. iPad is still suffering from component shortages that slow production.

This was the second quarter in a row that Apple couldn’t make enough iPadOS units to meet demand.

Apple takes title as world’s No. 1 computer-maker

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Apple takes title as world’s No. 1 computer-maker
All of these are computers, and all contributed to Apple’s share of the global computer market.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple shipped more computers in the first three months of 2022 than any of its rivals, according to a market research firm. Increasing Mac sales helped Apple take the top spot away from Lenovo in the global market for laptops, desktops and tablets.

Apple could have done even better but supply constraints cut into the number of iPads it was able to ship.

Chip shortage drags iPad shipments down 5%

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New budget iPad 9 gets better video chat, doubles storage
Apple still can't keep up with demand for iPad 9.
Photo: Apple

Apple shipped 4.6% fewer tablets in the first three months of 2022 than it did during the same period of 2021, according to a market research firm. The iPad-maker blames the shortfall on the global chip shortage preventing it from making enough devices to meet demand.

This is the second quarter in a row that iPad shipments have been hurt by component shortages.

Lightning strikes for Apple again, but storm clouds are on the horizon

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Apple warns that supply chain constraints will take a heavy toll in coming months.
Apple warns that supply chain constraints will take a heavy toll in coming months.
Photo: Raychel Sanner/Unsplash License/Cult of Mac

The first three months of 2022 were good to Apple, with revenue setting a quarterly record. But the company warned on Thursday that problems getting components and assembling products will take a nasty chunk out of revenue for the current quarter. The hit will to be between $4 billion and $8 billion.

But there’s also plenty of good news in from the conference call CEO Tim Cook had with investors after Apple’s March quarter results were announced.

Chip shortages cripple iPad shipments

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iPadOS 15 split-view multitasking
The global chip shortage hit Apple in the iPads last quarter.
Screenshot: Apple

The lone dark spot in Apple’s otherwise bright Q4 earnings report was iPad. And analysts are out with their estimates of how bad the damage was, with Apple’s quarterly tablet shipments possibly dropping as much as 21% year over year.

The only good news for Apple is that the drop off wasn‘t because of low demand. It couldn’t get the necessary parts to make sufficient devices to meet demand.