Is there still a need for tablets?

With tablet sales slowly dwindling, one needs to start asking the question, “Why?” Is there still a need for tablets, or are they just a “nice to have” item. This question becomes more prudent with laptop-tablet hybrid devices and laptops with touch screens becoming more and more prevalent. Is the world slowly waking up to the realization that tablets aren’t really needed, and I am amongst the few standing strong in the believe that, in the future, laptops and PCs will become the accessory rather than a necessity?

This seems to be the case. In Q2 of 2019, tablet sales have declined by 5% year-on-year. Google has abandoned tablets altogether and few companies are still focused on bringing new tablets to the market. According to IDC, the top 5 companies still in the tablet market are Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Amazon and Lenovo. Of the 5 companies, only Amazon and Apple have shown increased sales in 2019, but as I mentioned earlier, global sales are still down. But why?

The case against tablets

I think one of the best insights I had about tablets is when I asked my wife whether or not she thinks there is still a need for tablets. She promptly answered “No, why do I need a tablet when my phone can do everything a tablet can?“. I think this answer most purely demonstrates the sentiment of the average consumer. She is happy to use her phone for online banking, reading, sending mails and occasionally streaming media.

The much higher screen-to-body ratios achieved with the recent generations of smartphones has also added to the woes of the tablet. These days you can buy a Samsung Note 10+ with a whopping 6.8″ display. That is huge. Think about it. 6.8″ display on a phone is a significant increase from the glory days of the 4″ displays we knew and loved.

Along with all of this, tablets aren’t something people buy every 2 years. Consumers are happy keeping an iPad for 3 to 4 years. For the average Joe the minor updates to tablets each year does not justify the expense of getting a new one. People would rather spend money on a new smartphone than on a new tablet. This causes manufacturers to be less interested in tablets because there is less money in them.

All and all the outlook for tablets looks rather bleak…

The case for tablets

To prove a point, I am typing this post on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e. Why? Because I personally believe that tablets are great. But I seem to be one of the few who still uses a tablet regularly. And not just for streaming media.

I have adopted my tablet as a business tool. My tablet is always with me. When I visit sites, or do work in a workshop, I mostly use my tablet. When I am at the office, I would rather take my tablet to a meeting than a notebook.

And then of course I do use it for media and gaming when I travel. I enjoy watching my favorite series on a plane. And let’s face it. Dota Underlords on a 10.5″ screen is much better than on a 6.1″ screen.

There are also developments such as Samsung’s Desktop Experience (DeX), one of the coolest tools no-one is using. It turns your phone or tablet into a full blown desktop experience, truly making it a productivity tool.

But I must admit, I can do these things, especially on the Tab S5e because it came with a keyboard cover. On my previous tablets it was nice to take notes with the S-pen, but apparently these days the keyboard is mightier than the pen.

Conclusion

It pains me to admit this, but I think the rest of the world might be right. As much as I love my tablet, it just isn’t needed anymore. Everything I love about it could be replaced by a small laptop. If it wasn’t for my tablet’s keyboard, I would not use it nearly as much as I do. And when it comes down to it, is a tablet with a keyboard not just a poor excuse for a laptop?

I do not however believe it’s all doom and gloom. There would still be a demand for tablets for many years to come, and tablets, in some form or another (maybe foldable phones?) would survive. It may not replace the laptop as I once thought or hoped it would, but for now at least I still deeply enjoy using my tablet.