ABI Research said the slow slide of tablets was due to the fact that demand for branded tablets in advanced market economies was saturated and there appeared to be slow replacement cycles, greater influence of business purchases, and substitution. But Chinese and other Asian markets are also seeing decreased demand for white-box tablets due to shifts to branded tablets, as well as reliance on smartphones and phablets.

Jeff Orr, research director at ABI Research said that china was moving away from white box products to support local and global brand manufacturers.

"As this behavior continues across other markets in Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America, the potential for white box tablets to remain viable will all but go away."

Future tablet shipments show an interesting shift in market dynamic, with major advanced economies taking a back seat in shipment totals.

"The major, advanced economies of the world represented close to 63 per cent  of branded tablet shipments in 2015. This will soon flip. We predict that, by 2021, 57 percent of branded tablet shipments will come from emerging and developing economies."