LONDON: With Apple’s iPad Pro and Microsoft’s upcoming Surface Pro 4 2-in-1 device expected to stimulate demand, Acer’s Notebook Business Group president Jerry Kao expects the company’s 2-in-1 device shipments to grow over 80% on year in 2015 and Acer will become a top-3 player in the related market.
Although iPad Pro’s high price is expected to limit its sales, market watchers still expect the device to expand overall demand for 2-in-1 devices.
The iPad Pro and Surface Pro 4 will both be priced around US$1,000, mainly targeting the mid-range to high-end segment. First-tier vendors such as Acer, Asustek Computer and Lenovo are expected to mainly focus on the sub-US$300 segment.
Kao noted that global 2-in-1 device shipments from January to July grew 41% from a year ago, while Acer already achieved an 81% on-year shipments growth in the first half with EMEA’s growth at 134% and the pan-America area’s growth at 259%.
Acer is currently the largest 2-in-1 device vendor in EMEA with a 20% market share and is also the largest vendor in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Austria and Finland, as well as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Kao expects global notebook shipments to stay flat or drop from last year in 2015, but the 2-in-1 device and gaming notebook businesses will continue to enjoy growth.
