Apple’s iPad business, long thought to be the future of the company, isn’t acting like it. In the company’s June quarter, reported today, iPad sales declined on a year-on-year basis for the second quarter in a row. That’s a big change from a couple of years ago, when iPad shipments were more than doubling.
Why? Here are some good observations from Apple’s earnings report and call.
Apple said iPad sales grew 64% year-over-year in the Middle East, 51% in China, and 45% in India. Sales in developed markets were relatively weaker.
Apple’s reportedly forthcoming, larger iPhone models could even further weaken the iPad business.
Meanwhile, Apple says its Mac business actually did well in the US—and global Mac sales grew almost 20%.
How might the iPad find growth? Apple CEO Tim Cook (again) talked up a new partnership with IBM, which could potentially juice iPad sales to corporations.