Since the release of the first Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad, Cupertino has been at the head of the table in the tablet market. It took control of this market early on, and has yet to give up the lead. With this in mind, there are competitors all over the place. Just the same as the smartphone market, Samsung is the number two tablet vendor in the world.
Although things are sure to heat up in 2014, early indications are that Apple and Samsung will remain as the top two tablet vendors. Apple is expected to ship somewhere in the range of 80 to 90 million units. Samsung, on the other hand, is looking at a slightly smaller number, in the 60 to 70 million unit range.
While it is safe to assume that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s lead is clear cut for the time being, it is difficult to say what is going to happen as we get into the end of 2014 and the turn into 2015. Is it possible that Samsung could begin to close the gap, just the same as it has done in the smartphone market?
Samsung Pushing Apple’s Buttons
Samsung is not playing follow the leader in this instance. Instead, the electronics maker is doing its own thing, making Apple play catch up to a certain extent.
For example, Samsung’s recent launch of a 12.2 inch tablet is sure to push Apple to do the same thing. People have been talking about a larger iPad for quite some time, and the fact that Samsung is offering this may lead the company to act on this notion sooner than it wanted to.
Many believe that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will introduce a 12.9 inch model by the end of 2014, perhaps sometime during the third quarter.
In another battle, pay close attention to what Samsung is doing in regards to its pricing. If it is able to launch additional Galaxy Lite models, with prices as low as $129, Apple will not be able to compete on price alone. Of course, this is no big deal to Cook and company because they have never worried about this in the past.
For the foreseeable future, we can expect Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung to remain at the head of the tablet class. Both companies are doing big things in this market, with a lot more to come. This year is sure to be an exciting one.