Slowdown Expected in K-12 Mobile Device Growth for 2015

The market for mobile computing devices in K-12 worldwide has grown by 18 percent, according to new analysis by Futuresource Consulting. That equates to 5.7 million devices being shipped in the fourth quarter of 2014.

But that growth pales in comparison to numbers in the United States, where the market grew by 40.5 percent in 2014, driven, according to the research firm, by Common Core and the broad adoption of online assessments.
Source: Futuresource Consulting Ltd.

Futuresource monitors national-level projects in as many as 46 countries globally. In its recent market track report for personal computing in K-12 the firm highlighted how governments are increasingly realizing that they can influence the skill sets of their future workforce through major technology investment programs in schools.

Chromebooks, which run Google Chrome as their operating system, garnered 39 percent of market share in the United States last year with three million units sold. That was good enough to overtake Apple's iPad as the best-selling device; iPads pulled in 26 percent of sales.

Mike Fisher, ‎associate director of education technology noted in a statement that while his company has seen "strong success" for Chromebooks in this country, they've had "limited success" out of the United States. "Apple continues to maintain a strong position in developed markets, especially in Western Europe," he added.

Many Microsoft partners are offering detachable and convertible form factors, which are slowly gaining traction and are expected to gain share in 2015. Those include models from Lenovo, Acer, HP and Asus. "In terms of actual numbers, the adoption of these to data is quite low, but we expect this to increase," said Market Analyst Phillip Maddocks.

Futuresource predicted that growth in PC adoption would continue, although at a slower pace. The company projected 12 percent growth in 2015 worldwide and 10 percent in the United States.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Introduces Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.