The tablet market fell 12.6 percent to 48.7 million units in the third quarter of 2015, said IDC.

Apple has shipped 9.9 million tablets for 20.3 percent share in Q3 2015.

Samsung shipped 8 million for 16.5 percent share in the global tablet market. The difference in tablet shipment of Apple and Samsung is narrow.

Apple market share fell to 20.3 percent from 22.1 percent, while Samsung share dipped to 16.5 percent from 17.4 percent.

The tablet shipment of Lenovo was 3.1 percent for 5.5 percent share. Asus shipped 1.9 million and Huawei shipped 1.8 million units.

In 2014, tablets market rose 36 percent to 581.9 million globally.

“As the smartphone installed base continues to grow and the devices get bigger and more capable, the need for smaller form factor slate tablets becomes less,” said Ryan Reith, program director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers.

There is demand for detachable tablets and will grow over the next 18 months.

The report said the days of showcasing Apple iPad as the ultimate tablet is coming to an end. Self-cannibalization of Apple and increasing competition from PC vendors with detachable tablets have both contributed to a decline in iPad shipments. The launch of iPad Pro may create a shift towards productivity-enabling devices.

Samsung is one of the few remaining premium Android tablet vendors. However, the bulk of their shipments have focused on the low end. With the launch of the Tab S2, Samsung tried to play in the growing detachables market.

Asus captured a spot in the top 5 largely due to its low-cost Android tablet portfolio.

Huawei has addressed the growing trend of tablets for voice calling by focusing on cellular-enabled tablets. The Chinese smartphone maker also introduced tablets in markets with low broadband penetration. More than two-thirds of its tablets are mobile connected, said IDC.

Baburajan K
[email protected]