Samsung Sells 1 million Galaxy Tabs

Samsung has sold more than 1 million Apple iPad rival Galaxy Tab tablet computers worldwide, a significant jump for a product that notched 600,000 units sold two weeks ago before the US’ Thanksgiving holiday rush.

Samsung spokesperson Kim Titus confirmed the milestone to eWEEK on 3 December, but declined more details about where sales of the Android 2.2-based machines proved the highest.

Sales rush

The Galaxy Tab launched in the UK in early November. A Black Friday sales rush for holiday shoppers in the US on 26 November likely spurred Tab sales in that country.

Normally, 1 million units shipped of a newfangled, unproven computer that launched only two months ago outside the US would be great reason to celebrate.

But Apple started this market in April and has a comfortable head start. Apple shipped 1 million iPads in less than one month from April to May, and 4.19 million units in the company’s fourth quarter, ending on 19 October.

Still, coupled with the fact that Samsung has sold more than 5 million Samsung Galaxy S phones worldwide (3 million in the United States), the Tab news shows the Android model is working for the consumer electronics maker.

eWEEK tested the Tab, which sells for £529.99 from Tesco without contract, and found the experience to be an enjoyable one, albeit different from the iPad.

Small screen

The Tab sports a 7-inch screen, too small for some people, but just right for others. The Tab’s video cameras were also subpar, though the iPad has no camera.

As a portable machine for web browsing, typing emails and using web applications, the Tab excels. Consumers will likely pick up more Tabs as Christmas approaches.

The outlook for iPads and Android tablets is great in 2011.

While the iPad has cornered 90 percent or so of the market to date, IMS Research expects Android tablets will make up 15 percent of the worldwide market in 2011, nibbling at Apple’s iPad share similar to the way Android smartphones gained on Apple’s popular iPhone.