Samsung, LG eye niche sectors to boost tablet sales

South Korea’s electronics companies are launching tablet PCs with niche targets as the global tablet market has shrunk for four consecutive quarters. The Korean firms are looking to expand the role of tablets from video watching and games to outdoor activities and contactless education.

Samsung Electronics Co. announced its new tablet line Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro in the global market on Aug. 31.

The rugged device focuses on robustness with a military-grade toughness strong enough for use in the field or on the front line. It outperforms other chemically strengthened glass with scratch and damage resistance and endures drops of up to 1.2 meters due to its built-in protective cover, Samsung stated.     

The device primarily targets travelers and players of extreme sports. It will be launched this month in parts of Europe with availability in Asia, Latin America, North America and the Middle East later this year.



Samsung tested the Korean rugged device market with smartphone Galaxy XCover5 in March. The smartphone, priced at 275,000 won ($200.50) in the country, is for use in the field and factory with protection against dust and water.

The rugged smartphone has shown high sales performance over the past six months, increasing expectations for a further rugged tablet PC series, an industry source said.

LG Electronics Inc. also announced a new tablet line with the LG Ultra Tab in early August, targeting the Korean distance learning market. For LG, which withdrew from its smartphone business last year, the line marked its first new tablet launch time in three years.  

The product targets business-to-customers and the Korean remote learning market on the back of the country’s initiative to supply one smart device to each school student, an LG official said.

Electronics makers are intensifying efforts to launch new tablets as consumption of such devices has reduced over the past year. Global tablet shipments recorded 34.8 million units in the second quarter of 2022, down 11% from the same period last year, according to tech market analyst firm Canalys.

Write to Sung-Soo Bae at baebae@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.