Android Tablets Top 2013 Shipments

International Data Corporation (IDC) has released the Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker for 2013. Android tablets dominate the shipments for the year at 61 percent, followed by iOS (35%) and a mere 3 percent for Windows.

IDC estimates that industry shipments will reach 221.3 million units by the end of the year — a 53.5 percent increase on last year. This estimate — which is actually lower than its previous prediction of 227.4 million for 2013 — puts Android ahead with nearly 61 percent market share, ahead of iOS (35 percent) while Windows lagging on 3.4 percent.

Interestingly, they forecast an increase in market share for devices with screen-size over 7 but less than 8 inches (think iPad Mini), from 127.4 million units to 218.6 shipments by 2017. This growth, in a new segment of tablets not only confirms that price and screen-size combination are a factor, but it will revolutionarise the way people interact with devices as more people choose to use them as a second screen from their desktop environment or while watching TV. Conversely, PC sales should fall. Creating new opportunities for media.

We see the landscape has shifted towards Android, and that is more true in Zambia where the average user has a Samsung device. Other models are available on the market such as BlackBerry, Motorola and Sony, however the key driver of this purchase has been screen-size and screen quality. Samsung, of the devices available on the market offers this combination better than the other brands. With its eco-system, the opportunity to mirror screens and connect to other Smart devices in home or office makes them a winner.

Images Credit: IDC/TNW