Russians bought 26% fewer tablets in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year, according to the Svyaznoy retailer. Experts explain this by the advent of widescreen smartphones, which are quite convenient for reading books and watching movies.
Tablet sales are falling all over the world, and Russia is no exception. These gadgets are being replaced by widescreen smartphones, which are more convenient and can fit in your pocket. According to Svyaznoy’s statistics, 1 mio tablets were sold in Russia in January-June 2016 – 26% less than in the same period last year. Moreover, the decline has already become a long-term trend: in the first half of last year, sales also fell by 12% compared to 2017.
Another major electronic retailer, M.Video-Eldorado, recorded an even greater decline, by 30% to a mere 1.15 mio in the first half of the year.
Tablets with smaller screens, under 8 inches, are the least popular, which is not surprising: people prefer to buy a more functional and convenient smartphone at the same price. MTS mobile giant’s figures are close to those of Svyaznoy, with the decline in tablet sales in the first half of 2019 measured at 27%.