Technology analyst firm Canalys reports that global shipments of tablets have grown by 26% in the second quarter of 2020, reaching 37.5 million units.

The analyst company says demand came from the surge in working from home, as countries around the globe face lockdown measures during the pandemic.

“Tablets enjoyed a renaissance in Q2 2020 because the devices tick so many boxes for remote work and education use,” said Canalys Analyst Ishan Dutt.

The company says some tablet brands saw sales surge in numbers that are normally only seen during the holiday season in the fourth quarter of the year.

Apple iPad shipments, for example, surged by 20%, with more than 14 million units shipped.

“The ability to collaborate virtually as well as view and interact with digital content has become paramount, especially in the education space,” Dutt added.

“The coronavirus pandemic has increased competition for communal screen access between household members forced to stay indoors.

“Tablets help overcome this problem by allowing each family member to have their own device. And they are more budget-friendly than desktops and notebooks.”

“The channel and carrier ecosystem around tablets has also played a significant role in this stellar Q2 performance,” Canalys senior analyst Ben Stanton said.

“Vendors and retailers in mature markets have offered massive discounts as part of their back-to-school promotions. They have also ramped up their capacity to manage online sales and delivery in the face of lockdown measures.”