Are Tablets at Risk of Going Obsolete as Smartphones Continue to Expand?

With the smartphone market expanding at an alarming rate and the device capable of more things than ever, there has been some speculation that tablets could soon be rendered unnecessary and go obsolete. Tablets have long had an advantage over smartphones for entertainment, as their size generates greater immersion levels. But with foldable smartphones emerging that provide more surface area, will tablets still be needed?

In answering this question, it could be wise to look to Asian markets such as Thailand, where both smartphone and tablet adoption has been high. Are tablets slowing down there or are people continuing to buy them?

Asian Countries Could Have a Big Influence on Tablet Usage

Asian countries are among the world leaders when it comes to the mass adoption of mobile devices. In the smartphone market, China leads the way with 953.55 million smartphone users. Other Asian countries that make the top 20 include Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand. Interestingly, many people in these countries also own tablets.

Thailand has the second-highest tablet penetration in the world with 4.36 percent of the population owning one. Only China can beat the Land of Smiles in that regard, with 5.07 percent of its population using the larger mobile device. There is no indication that these figures will dip, either. Indeed, the number of tablet users is expected to increase massively in Thailand over the next four years.

Projections suggest that the number of tablet users in the Southeast Asian nation could rise from 14.87 million in 2022 to 19.58 million in 2026. This could be because there is a generally low percentage of computer users in the country at 25.93 percent, with people preferring to spend money on smartphones and tablets instead.

Tablets are Still Best for Entertainment Viewing

Perhaps the reason why tablet usage is increasing and is by no means in decline is that they are still unrivaled by smartphones when it comes to providing a rich and engaging entertainment experience. Thailand is one of the world leaders in terms of average time spent online each day, at 9.38 hours. It’s in the top ten countries in the world for social media usage too, with this being the preferred activity online.

YouTube is one of the most visited websites in the country, with tablet users keener to view video clips on a larger screen. It is also estimated that there are 32 million gamers in Thailand, highlighting how highly this sector of entertainment is valued. This can range from mobile games such as Garena RoV, Coin Master, and Roblox to casino offerings. Judging by the number of sites competing for players in Thailand, gambling is clearly high on the agenda. Roulette is one of the most popular games, and players can search through a variety of sites to choose one based on its rating and offers. Roulette works well when viewed on a tablet as the larger surface area means that the ball and wheel are more clearly visible than on a smartphone.

Also Read: Narzo 50 5G Smartphone Launched On Amazon, Price Tag, Offers, And Specs

Could Tablets Be Adapted in New Ways in the Future?

Rather than get phased out by the growth of new and improved smartphones with larger surfaces and better capabilities, tablets are likely to stay relevant by evolving in their own ways as well. They have a great deal of potential. Aside from being excellent at delivering high-quality entertainment, the devices are also favored by many professionals, such as graphic designers and musicians. As new tablets are released, developers cleverly focus on providing new tools to appeal to their main userbase.

There could be some cool ways that tablets are adapted for new technology. With augmented reality on the horizon and Apple reportedly working on its own glasses, it will be interesting to see how the iPad is integrated with the futuristic tech. Perhaps tablets could project AR images that would be seen by more than one user at the same time. This would be an exciting innovation for gaming, as it could allow people to play board games with animations.

There are no signs that tablets will be going obsolete any time soon. In fact, the number of people using them is expected to rise steadily over the next five years. Smartphones will always overshadow these devices in terms of adoption, but they are unlikely to replace them.