iPad May See Big Decline In 2015, Even With The iPad Pro

The iPad is a robust mobile productivity tool, but has also been seeing a sales decline. Over time, the fervor surrounding the tablet market has waned, and the iPad is often pointed to as a litmus test for the health of the tablet sector. A new report from KGI suggests good news is not on the horizon, and that Apple's tablet will continue its sales tumble by roughly 30%. If you're thinking Apple's rumored iPad Pro (or whatever they call it) will save them, KGI says 'think again'.

KGI says Apple will "struggle" to sell more than 45 million iPads in 2015. Though a 12-inch iPad is 'expected', KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it won't "contribute meaningfully to shipments momentum anytime soon."

In fact, Kuo thinks the lack of that larger iPad will lead to a rough start for Apple. In the first quarter alone, Kuo believes Apple's iPad sales will dip 52.7% versus the previous quarter. In quarter two, Kuo expects another 30-40% dip.

Without a 12-inch iPad to spark interest, Kuo also doesn't see much hope for Apple's iPad. He says "retail promotion of existing models may not work well", and goes on to say the 12-inch iPad might not come as soon as expected, "leaving limited time for shipping" and a "limited" debut.

But who's really to blame? According to Kuo, it might be developers. He cites a "lack of innovative applications" as reason for the iPad's future downturn. That commentary doesn't quite jibe with the App Store's overall success, either.

Is this all believable? Kuo was pretty spot-on about iPhone shipments, so he might have good insight. The iPad has been slowly trending downward, too, and we've got no reason to believe that will turn around any time soon.

Unfortunately for analysts, Apple doesn't seem phased by the iPad's slumping sales. It might cause them to re-imagine their strategy moving forward, but Tim Cook seems content to have satisfied customers above all else.

Via: 9to5Mac