According to the latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker Apple's iPad will get back some of the market share it lost to Android tablets in 2011 and is forecast to take over 62 percent of worldwide sales.
The bump is part of an overall rise in tablet sales for 2012 which IDC estimates to reach 107.4 million units, up from 69.6 million in 2011 and just 19.4 million in 2010.
"Demand for media tablets remains robust, and we see an increasing interest in the category from the commercial side," said Tom Mainelli, research director of IDC's Mobile Connected Devices unit. "We expect pending new products from major players, increasingly affordable mainstream devices, and a huge marketing blitz from Microsoft around Windows 8 to drive increased consumer interest in the category through the end of the year."
Apple's share of the tablet market is seen as reaching 69.8 million units which accounts for 62.5 percent of global sales. The iPad dominated in 2011 with a 58.2 percent market share but that number was down from the device's launch year which saw iOS tablet sales take an unprecedented 76.2 percent piece of the pie. The growth will eat away at Android market share that is pegged to fall 2.3 percent from the 38.8 percent seen in 2011.
"After a very strong launch of new products in March, Apple's iPad shows few signs of slowing down," Mainelli said. "The addition of the Retina Display and 4G capabilities to the third-generation products clearly enticed many current owners to upgrade. And Apple's decision to keep two iPad 2s in the market at lower prices - moving the entry-level price down to $399 - seems to be paying off as well.
Mainelli adds that Apple's market presence would be further strengthened if the company releases a rumored 7-inch iPad model as the presumedly low entry price will possibly break into untapped demographics. The company is said to be readying such a device for launch sometime this fall.
If and when a smaller iPad makes a debut, it will have to contend not only with Android tablets but also devices running Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows RT. While the IDC does not currently include the two new operating systems as part of its forecast, the firm will be adding them next quarter as devices hit store shelves. Although the market share is not expected to be high, it should be noted that the Windows-based tablets do appear in IDC's PC market tracker.
The tablet market is expected to grow to 222.1 million units by 2016, offering plenty of room for new competition. What remains to be seen is whether Android can wrest away enough market share from iOS to even the playing field or if Microsoft's new Windows devices will be the one to pick up the scraps.
29 Comments
But it doesn't matter because in a few years Windows will have way more marketshare than…
Apple's share of the tablet market is seen as reaching 69.8 million units which accounts for 62.5 percent of global sales. The iPad dominated in 2011 with a 58.2 percent market share
Impressive as this is, I think that apple is more impressed with the profits generated. Market share is fine, but profits are finer. Apple doesn't really care so much about market share.
And besides, there really is no tablet market. There only an iPad market. No other tablet even comes close.
Impressive as this is, I think that apple is more impressed with the profits generated. Market share is fine, but profits are finer. Apple doesn't really care so much about market share.
And besides, there really is no tablet market. There only an iPad market. No other tablet even comes close.
I agree that there is no market except an iPad market, but disagree that Apple doesn't care about market share. They will not sacrifice profits, build quality, user experience, etc. for the pursuit of market share, but they are always quick to point out the market share when it leans in their favor. With iPods, iPads, premium computers ($1000+), they are more than willing to tell the world they dominate market share.
Isn't IDC the "research" company that always kisses Ballmer's butt?
I have to say that 107.4 million units of sales in 2013 is a whopping big number of Media Tablets and eReaders. Doesn't that surpass projected PC sales?
I'm a long time fanboi and unapologetic Apple supporter, so it warms my cockles to recall how Ballmer cackled about the iPhone's entry into the market and how he dismissed the iPad as "not a real computer." It's been a long time since his schweaty butt has last hopped about on stage.
[quote name="Macky the Macky" url="/t/150718/apple-ipad-to-gain-market-share-in-2012-at-expense-of-android#post_2128126"][/quote] PC sales are roughly 360 million a year If Apple was to get to 20% share, it would sell 75 million units, vs. 25 million today. Huge upside