Just over four years ago, Apple launched the iPad to much fanfare, with lines forming for customers to get their hands on the newest technological innovation, the tablet.
Today, despite strong sales, the company reported that for the second straight quarter in a row the number of iPads that have been purchased is down in comparison to the quarter last year.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company sold over 13 million iPads during the period, but that is down over one million from the previous year. While he did not say the company was worried over the decline in sales, it does appear that the iPad in its current version may have run its course in overwhelming popularity.
Overall, since its 2010 launch, the company has sold around 225 million tablets, including the iPad Air and iPad mini, which could claimed to have near-perfect customer satisfaction ratings at 98 percent and 100 percent, respectively. One report suggested that market research points to nearly two-thirds of potential customers looking into purchasing a tablet are planning to get their hands on an iPad, which has branded itself extremely well over the years.
Cook, in detailing the slight downturn for Apple on its tablet franchise, said that "significant innovation can be brought to the iPad," which is in line with what the company has been saying and what analysts have been urging Apple to do in a new tablet launch: innovate. He added that the company "plans on doing that" as the tablet industry remains "in its infancy."
The iPad, on a positive note, has seen its growth double in China and expand by 60 percent in the Middle East year-to-year.
Cook also said that in order to continue to develop the iPad, the company will be looking to launch updated iPad Air and Retina iPad mini models later this year -- ideally ahead of the holiday season. They are expected to have the Touch ID fingerprint sensor for better security, as well as the fast A8 processor.
Despite the ups and downs of the iPad over the past year, Apple is hopeful that it can continue to innovate and develop the tablet sector to continue to be the leader in the tech device sector. With the new iPhone 6 set to be hitting the shelves this fall, the company is hopeful that a slew of new and updated products will help boost sales.
