Despite Samsung Electronics having been filling its tablet production lines and reducing the prices of its mainstream models, the Korea-based vendor is unlikely to be able to achieve shipments of 60 million tablets for 2014 as many market watchers forecast in early 2014, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. However, Samsung shipped almost 20 million units in the first half, a growth of 16.6% on year.

To push its tablet sales, Samsung is expected to offer more promotions and price cuts in the second half, putting pressure on its competitors.

In the first half, Samsung released its new Galaxy Tab Lite series, a 12-inch large-size model and high-end 8.4- and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab Pro series.

Currently, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 4 is priced at US$169, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 Lite at US$139, down from US$159, and the 8.4-inch Galaxy Tab S at US$399, down from US$499.

IDC's figures showed that Samsung shipped 11.2 million and 8.5 million tablets in the first and second quarters of 2014, respectively, up from 16.7 million units in the first half of 2013.

Apple shipped 29.68 million iPads in the first half, down 14.9% on year from 34.1 million units.

Digitimes Research has calculated that 55.06 million tablets were shipped globally in the second quarter of 2014, decreasing 4.5% on quarter but increasing 17.9% on year.

The shipments consisted of 14.1 million iPads, down 10% on quarter, and 18.96 million units launched by vendors other than Apple, down 12.7% on quarter. Additionally, 22.3 million white-box units were shipped in the second quarter, according to Digitimes Research's figures.