It’s a bold statement but one that few are confidently countering with an opposing argument today.
According to Tuesday’ report from IDC, Android tablets will do that which was difficult to contemplate just a short time ago. Android tablets will surpass Apple’s once dominant iPad.
“One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below 8 inches in screen size. And in terms of shipments, we expect smaller tablets to continue growing in 2013 and beyond,” says Jitesh Ubrani, Research Analyst for IDC’s Tablet Tracker. “Vendors are moving quickly to compete in this space as consumers realize that these small devices are often more ideal than larger tablets for their daily consumption habits.”
Android’s share of the market is forecast to reach a peak of 48.8% this year (compared to 41.5% in IDC’s previous forecast). IDC says Android’s gains come at the expense of Apple’s iOS, which is now projected to fall from 51% of the market in 2012 to 46% in 2013.
Longer term, however, IDC believes that both iOS and Android will “eventually relinquish” some market share to Windows-based tablets, with Windows 8 predicted to grow from 1% of the market in 2012 to 7.4% in 2017.
To read the complete statement issued today by IDC, click here.
