Intel: Tablets are a fad

The golden age of the larger tablet is nearing its end according to Intel’s Worldwide Client Benchmark Manager, Matt Dunford.

Speaking to TrustedReviews about Intel’s new processor, the Core M, he says:

“(larger)Tablets have been the fad for the last 3-4 years. People have got their tablet, it was fun but now they don’t use it. I don’t know if those tablet purchaser are going to keep taking money away from people refreshing their PC.” 

The statement follows research Intel conducted which shows that almost 50% of consumers who purchased a hybrid notebook or laptop had first considered buying a tablet. 

Indeed the growth in the tablet market has appeared to plateau since it exploded with the launch of the iPad in 2010 – a four year period in which the PC suffered serious decline. However recent figures show that the PC is resurging, buoyed, in particular, by new form-factors such as the detachable notebook.

Intel still heavily supports smaller tablets with its Atom range of processors and showed TrustedReviews a range of impressive Android and Windows 8 devices at IFA 2014. 

With the Core M, though, Intel is keen to help manufacturers create PC tablets, hybrids and all-in-ones that challenge the high end Android and Apple tablets like the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the iPad Air in terms of screen quality, thinness and battery life. In addition it claims that these Windows hybrids can offer all the media consumption benefits of a tablet coupled with excellent content creation and productivity with a silent, fanless design – just like most tablets. In fact Intel claims that the Intel Core M is up to three times faster than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, the current go to chip for high end tablets.

“A big premium tablet is going to be thin and light and have a battery that is going to last a long time. You’re going to be able to do your consumption of media and maybe some basic productivity. But when you start looking at something that needs more performance where you’re really trying to make it do something the Intel Core M is going to be dramatically better.” explains Matt Dunford.