IDC raised its 2013 forecast for worldwide tablet shipments from 172.4 million to 190.9 million along with an average increase of 11% from 2013 to 2016. It now believes that up to 350 million tablets could be shipped in 2017 with the main driver being smaller form factor (under 8 inch) tablets.
IDC has increased the share estimate for Android tablet's from 41.5% in its previous forecast to 48.8% while Apple falls from 51% to 46%. Windows 8 (and future releases for the enterprise market) is expected to grow from a 2.8% share to 7.4% in 2017. Windows RT, a more consumer focused product, is expected to remain under a 3% share.
2012-17 |
|||
| Market Share | 2013 |
2017 |
CAGR |
| Android | 48.8% |
46.0% |
14.8% |
| iOS | 46.0% |
43.5% |
15.0% |
| Windows | 2.8% |
7.4% |
48.8% |
| Windows RT | 1.9% |
2.7% |
27.9% |
| Other | 0.6% |
0.4% |
7.5% |
| Total | 100.1% |
100.0% |
16.6% |
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, March 2013
IDC estimates that Android and iOS tablets will grow at about the same rate from 2012 to 2017. When you take the projected market shares and apply it to 350 million units expected to be sold in 2017 Android and Apple’s iPad could sell over 150 million units in the year. Microsoft’s Surface Pro would just be crossing the 25 million unit mark and potentially less than what Apple sells in one quarter.
2012-17 |
|||
| Shipments (mil.) | 2013 |
2017 |
CAGR |
| Android | 93.2 |
161.0 |
14.8% |
| iOS | 87.8 |
152.3 |
15.0% |
| Windows | 5.3 |
25.9 |
48.8% |
| Windows RT | 3.6 |
9.5 |
27.9% |
| Other | 1.1 |
1.4 |
7.5% |
| Total | 191.1 |
350.0 |
16.6% |
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, March 2013
Disclosure: My family and I own Apple shares
