Irvine, Calif. – Tablet sales’ meteoric ascent will continue
with 126.6 million units expected to ship in 2012, according to IHS.
The IHS iSuppli Worldwide Tablet Market Tracker report states
the 126.6 million units shipped worldwide is an 85 percent increase over the
68.4 million that shipped in 2011. In 2010 16.4 million tablets were sold.
Looking ahead, IHS is predicting sales to jump another 63
percent in 2013 with 360.4 million shipping by 2016.
Apple can expect its iOS-based products to add continue to
dominate during this period. The IHS report has Apple adding to its already
dominating market share in 2012.
The expectation is for Apple iOS devices such as tablets and
media players will own about 61 percent of the market IHS year. This is an
increase compared to the last quarter of 2011 when iOS lost some share due to
the influx and hot sales of the Android-based Amazon Kindle Fire. At that time
iOS share fell to a still very strong 55.1 percent.
Android’s share peaked at 41.1 percent at the end of 2011,
but will fall to about 38.4 percent when 2012, IHS is predicting.
The upcoming release of Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating
system will also have an impact on the tablet market. IHS expects this
tablet-friendly OS to help boost tablet sales next year bringing in customers
who desire the portability of a tablet tied to the capabilities of a laptop or
desktop computer.
