Android tablets to destroy iPad domination in 2013

March 13th, 2013, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

Android is the leading go-to OS for OEMs such as Samsung, which doesn't possess its own operating system, with the open Google platform supporting third party smartphones and tablets alike.
And with Android possessing such widespread ubiquity in the tablet space via the Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab and beyond, IDC says the Google OS will topple the iPad's domination of the tablet space this year.
The researcher predicts that the Android share of the tablet space will hit 48.8 per cent in 2013, which is a revision of the previously expected 41.5 per cent share, following a 2012 sales growth. Meanwhile, Apple's iPad has long reigned supreme and bagged a 51 per cent market share in 2012, which is set to decline to 46 per cent this year.
In the long term, both iOS and Android will lose share to Windows tablets, though Android will still lead when 2017 rolls around. The switch from iOS to Android leadership comes as the latter offers more variety on the market, particularly with cheaper priced options.
Low-cost tablets are also expected to damage the eReader market, which is thought to have peaked in 2011 with 26.4m units, as a gradual and permanent decline will begin in 2015. IDC also expects the 2013 worldwide tablet market to end with 190.9m tablets shipped, a revision of an earlier 172.4m units.
Jitesh Ubrani, research analyst for IDC's Tablet Tracker, said: "One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below eight inches in screen size. And in terms of shipments, we expect smaller tablets to continue growing in 2013 and beyond.
"Vendors are moving quickly to compete in this space as consumers realise that these small devices are often more ideal than larger tablets for their daily consumption habits."
Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets. IDC, added: "Microsoft's decision to push two different tablet operating systems, Windows 8 and Windows RT, has yielded poor results in the market so far.
"Consumers aren't buying Windows RT's value proposition, and long term we think Microsoft and its partners would be better served by focusing their attention on improving Windows 8. Such a focus could drive better share growth in the tablet category down the road.

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