Consumer market growth and market share forecasts for Android tablets

¶ … Consumer Market for the Android Tablet

The objective of this study is to analyze the consumer market for the Android Tablet. In a March 2013 IDC Press Release it is reported that, there is prediction of a "surge of smaller, lower-priced devices in the tablet market." (2013, p.1) The Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker is reported to have stated, "one in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below 8 inches in screen size." (IDC Press Release, 2013) Expectations are stated that smaller tablets are expected to experience growth in 2013 and onward. (IDC Press Release, 2013, paraphrased) The market share of Android-based tablets expanded in 2012 significantly and it is expected that the trend in growth will continue with a forecast of the market share of Androids to "reach a peak of 48.8% in 2013 compared to 41.5% in IDC's previous forecast." (IDC Press Release, 2013)

Tablet Operating Systems, Forecast Market Share

The IDC Press Release cites the following statistics for the tablet operating systems, forecast market share, and CAGR 2012-2017.

Figure 1 - Tablet Operating Systems, Forecast Market Share, and CAGR 2012-2017

Tablet OS

2013

Market

Share

2017

Market

Share

2012-2017

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%

Grand Total

16.6%

Source: IDC Press Release (2013)

II. Gartner News Release

In a recent Gartner News Release, it is reported, "the proliferation of lower-priced tablets and their growing capability is accelerating the shift from PCs to tablets." (2013, p.1) It is stated that some people will retain their PC and use an Android Tablet but that most individuals will be "satisfied with the experience they get from a tablet as their main computing device." (Gartner News Release, 2013) The Gartner news release reports that worldwide shipments of tablets are "forecast to total 197 million units in 2013" which is stated to be a "69.8% increase from 2012 shipments of 116 million units." (Gartner News Release, 2013, p.1)

Summary and Conclusion

It is clear that the Android Tablet market share will growth exponentially in 2013 and beyond as the Android Tablet offers the usability that consumers desire with most individuals giving up their PC due to a high level of satisfaction with their use of the Android Tablet.