When it reported its fiscal 2015 second quarter (Q2 2015) revenues yesterday, Apple revealed that it sold only 12.6 million iPads for the quarter ending March 28. That is 29 percent fewer iPads than it sold in the same period a year ago. Most notably, though, the company earned more revenue from Mac than iPad for the quarter, with Mac sales bringing in $5.6 million compared to $5.4 million earned from iPad.

Max shows double-digit unit growth year on year

Apple CEO Tim Cook noted in an earnings call that Mac sales showed double-digit unit growth year on year, beating market estimates showing a decline in global PC sales.

Earlier this month, the International Data Corporation (IDC) said PC shipments declined by nearly 7 percent during the first quarter of 2015.

Cook also commented that halfway through fiscal 2015, Apple’s year-to-date results “have been simply staggering.” The company has sold more than 135 million iPhones, 34 million iPads and 10 million Macs in the first six months of fiscal 2015.

Apple’s Q2 2015 revenues were up 71 percent year on year in Greater China, and Mac was a big contributor to this. Mac unit sales in Greater China were up 31 percent over the same period last year. This, noted Cook, once again beat market expectations as IDC projected that PC sales in China declined by 5 percent in the previous quarter.

Commenting on iPad’s low sales volume, Cook pointed out, “In the PRC, not in greater China but in PRC, iPad had its best quarter ever, higher than all the others, and also grew in a market that contracted for the overall market. So really truly, everything you look at in China was extremely good.”

iPad experiencing cannibalization

Cook also admitted that iPad is experiencing cannibalization from the company’s larger-screen iPhones, as well from the Mac. “Of course, as I’ve said before, we’ve never worried about that. It is what it is. That will play out. At some point, it will stabilize. I’m not sure precisely when, but I’m pretty confident that it will,” added Cook.

Cook believes that Apple’s partnership with IBM, although in its early stages, will help bolster iPad sales. “I’m a big believer in the ability for iPad to play in a major way in [the] enterprise. I’m looking forward to seeing that play out as we move forward,” he said.

iPad market not saturated, says Cook

Cook, looking at first-time buyer rates for iPad, doesn’t believe the market is saturated. In the U.S., he pointed out, 40 percent of those who bought an iPad were doing so for the first time. In China, that number is almost 70 percent.

“I believe the iPad is an extremely good business over the long term. When precisely it starts to grow again I wouldn’t want to predict, but I strongly believe that it will,” said Cook.

Photo credit: Paul Hudson | Flickr