Size matters to tablet users, study finds

Research from NPD In-Stat suggests that size is not only important to tablet computer users, it is the leading indicator of tablet usage in a range of scenarios.

The bigger the screen, the better, the report indicates, as the majority of users tend to gravitate toward tablets with screens ranging from 9.7 to 11 inches. According to the report, this form factor accounts for two-thirds of the global tablet market.

Mid-sized tablets are also on the rise, thanks to the strong sales of several Android™ models. NPD In-Stat notes that tablets with screen sizes between 7 and 8.5 inches are among the "brightest spots" in the market.

As tablets get smaller, however, sales start to wane. Shipments of tablets between 3.5 and 7 inches are expected to decline in the coming years, reaching only 15.6 million units in 2016.

This does not bode well for the emerging tablet-smartphone hybrid market. Several manufacturers, in looking for a way to thrive in the highly competitive mobile industry, have plans to introduce smaller devices that marry the capabilities of smartphones and tablets. However, whether users will respond to the smaller gadgets remains to be seen.