The new Apple iPad is expected to be introduce on 16 October after invitations were sent out early last week. Apple followers are aware that this may not be as big as the event last 9 September, but it important for table users.
However, the rest of the market don't seem to care as much. Sales of iPad have slowed dramatically in recent quarters and, if indications are correct, not much change will happen even after the second biggest Apple event this year.
Even more shockingly, the newest iPad models are nowhere near being the most popular in terms of usage. Data shows that the most popular iPad model is still the three-and-a-half-year-old iPad 2.
In the smartphone market, Apple has seen steady growth in unit sales each year. Moreover, a large majority of people buying new iPhones pick the newest model. As a result, by the end of a "model year," the newest iPhone model always has the highest usage share among all iPhones.
For example, in early September - prior to the launch of the iPhone 6 - the iPhone 5s accounted for 28 percent of all iPhone usage, according to Fiksu. Another 9 percent came from the iPhone 5c. The previous year's model, the iPhone 5, had a 26 percent usage share, and each successive older model had a lower usage share.
This indicates that iPhone customers generally want the latest technology, and it also shows that the overall market is growing. This bodes well for Apple's long-term earnings power.
The situation is completely different for iPads. Ever since Apple decided to keep the iPad 2 around when it launched the third-generation iPad, older-model iPads have been surprisingly popular.
The iPad 2 still accounts for more than one-quarter of all the usage tracked by Fiksu. The new models introduced last fall -- the iPad Air and the iPad Mini with Retina Display - together accounted for just 20 percent of all usage. Indeed, the more popular of the two (the iPad Air) is still only the 4th most popular iPad, despite having been on the market for nearly a year.
To some extent, the relatively low adoption of Apple's newest iPads can be explained by Apple's decision to keep selling older models at lower prices. Most notably, the original iPad Mini price was cut to US$ 299 in time for the 2013 holiday season, and several retailers tacked on gift cards for Black Friday, lowering the effective price to US$ 199-US$ 249.
However, the low usage share for last year's iPads can't be downplayed as an artifact of strong demand for the older, cheaper iPads - because more generally, iPad sales have stumbled.
However, the rest of the market don't seem to care as much. Sales of iPad have slowed dramatically in recent quarters and, if indications are correct, not much change will happen even after the second biggest Apple event this year.
Even more shockingly, the newest iPad models are nowhere near being the most popular in terms of usage. Data shows that the most popular iPad model is still the three-and-a-half-year-old iPad 2.
In the smartphone market, Apple has seen steady growth in unit sales each year. Moreover, a large majority of people buying new iPhones pick the newest model. As a result, by the end of a "model year," the newest iPhone model always has the highest usage share among all iPhones.
For example, in early September - prior to the launch of the iPhone 6 - the iPhone 5s accounted for 28 percent of all iPhone usage, according to Fiksu. Another 9 percent came from the iPhone 5c. The previous year's model, the iPhone 5, had a 26 percent usage share, and each successive older model had a lower usage share.
This indicates that iPhone customers generally want the latest technology, and it also shows that the overall market is growing. This bodes well for Apple's long-term earnings power.
The situation is completely different for iPads. Ever since Apple decided to keep the iPad 2 around when it launched the third-generation iPad, older-model iPads have been surprisingly popular.
The iPad 2 still accounts for more than one-quarter of all the usage tracked by Fiksu. The new models introduced last fall -- the iPad Air and the iPad Mini with Retina Display - together accounted for just 20 percent of all usage. Indeed, the more popular of the two (the iPad Air) is still only the 4th most popular iPad, despite having been on the market for nearly a year.
To some extent, the relatively low adoption of Apple's newest iPads can be explained by Apple's decision to keep selling older models at lower prices. Most notably, the original iPad Mini price was cut to US$ 299 in time for the 2013 holiday season, and several retailers tacked on gift cards for Black Friday, lowering the effective price to US$ 199-US$ 249.
However, the low usage share for last year's iPads can't be downplayed as an artifact of strong demand for the older, cheaper iPads - because more generally, iPad sales have stumbled.
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