For a while now, Google has become increasingly interested in the market for Android tablets. Its co-founder Rich Miner has returned to the company as “CTO of Android tablets,” and Android 12L is in development to support larger-screened devices. As reported by 9to5Google, Miner explained the opportunity to developers during an episode of The Android Show.
Apps like media players were easily scaled to fit Android tablets in 2011, but then growth “kind of stagnated,” according to Miner. More keyboard peripherals and third-party software and hardware developments by third-party manufacturers have made them better tools for creating instead of consuming, he says, citing data from late 2019.
He also said tablets are “very capable, less expensive than a laptop.” Because of this, Google optimised the system UI and app formatting for larger devices in Android 12L.
Essentially, Miner is calling on developers to take a close look at their apps and consider taking advantage of the tools Google is developing to boost tablet support, or perhaps building apps that are designed to be used on tablets.
He cited sales figures from 2020, which show that “tablet purchases have begun to approach the volume of laptop shipments.” With this, Miner believes that at some time in the not-too-distant future there will be more tablets sold annually than there will be laptops. According to him, once you’ve crossed that line, you’re not going to want to return.
To trust that Google’s revived tablet drive will avoid the trap of inertia, users need to see more improvements. Things like better support for developers and new apps that make users desire to take up tablets once again.
If you’re a developer and would like to understand Google’s grand vision and the future for Android tablets, you can listen to all of Miner’s conversation on the Android Show here.
