Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
Summary: While Apple is still the champion, the days on top of the tablet throne might be numbered for iOS.
It's indisputable that Apple is the leader in the tablet market, whether it be for consumer or enterprise customers, with the iPad. Several reports in the last few months point towards what could be seen as inevitable shift to a more competitive market, especially as Google's Android OS continues to evolve and more devices become available.
See also: CNET: Android coming on strong in tablets, Q3 data shows
We could actually be seeing that shift occur much faster than expected, based on new research from Strategy Analytics. That latest report revealed that 17 million tablet units shipped during the third quarter of 2011, with iOS and Android accounting for a combined 94 percent share.
Although Apple was responsible for 67 percent of the share, Android jumped up to produce 27 percent of global tablet shipments in Q3 2011 -- rising twelve-fold from 2 percent last year.
Additionally, Digitimes previously reported that non-Apple tablet shipments are expected to surge in 2012, with Android accounting for 44-45 million units shipped next year and Apple sending off 54-55 million iPads at the same time.
Android has also become the de facto choice for a base mobile OS for tablet manufacturers not named Apple, especially now that WebOS has all but disappeared. With the dawn of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and the Android-based Kindle Fire -- should it not crash and burn (pardon the pun) like some other hyped devices we've seen this year -- then maybe Android will grow even more rapidly in the next 12 months and give the tablet a dose of much-needed competition.
As for the market as a whole in the long term, iSuppli predicted that we’ll see 275.3 million media tablets units in 2015, which is far more optimistic than In-Stat’s expectation of 250 million by 2017.
Related:
- iPad driving massive growth for iOS in enterprise (survey)
- Apple’s fourth quarter dinged by iPhone 4S waiting game
- Kobo challenges Amazon Kindle Fire with Vox eReader
- Mobile, big data, social dominate Gartner's top tech trends for 2012
- Enterprise IT and megavendors: Cloud players angle in on bad marriages
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Talkback
Shipped does not equal sold unless you are Apple
Now the Kindle Fire is an interesting one because while it is technically Android at its heart, it is not marketed as an Android device. It is not part of the Android army. It does not compete against the iPad. Neither will the Kobo Vox.
So while I do believe that Android eReader sales will increase in 2012, there will be 0 growth in Android tablet sales. Not shipments. Those might grow. Sales won't. iPad will continue to have 95% of tablet sales.
It is a sick market. We all lose.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
Mac sales aren't growing?
"The sales of the competition aren't growing."
Are you accusing Apple of lying to shareholders because they keep reporting astounding growth in their desktop lines. That is a serious charge and you should immediately take it to the SEC. They'll thank you for it. Of course, they will ask you for proof that Mac's share is not growing but I'm sure you have it. You wouldn't lie about it.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
If you didn't notice; my comment was a lot like yours. So whether I'm accusing Apple of lying about it's increased Mac share depends on whether you are accusing Google of lying about it's increasing Android sales (as well all the study that show Apple has less than 95% in tablet market share.)
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
"my comment was a lot like yours"
No, you are talking about a CEO spreading false information about past sales. I was talking about how anlysts can make all the predictions they want about future shipments of Android tablets into warehouses.
Past is not the future. CEOs talking to shareholders is not anlysts talking to subscribers. You would like to think you made a witty retort but you didn't.
ZDNet, your filters are too funny
Market isnt sick...you are
Why buy something you dont want?
And if Android were so great, they would have a competing product out by now...gosh Google is like Microsoft these days...I guess open isnt enough to make a winning product.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
Based on what? I went to Target the other day and I saw about 10 iPads sitting on the shelf.
Just because they lie and say "We sell every one shipped!" doesn't mean it's true.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
And those shipped versions are NOT COUNTED. Only what was sold. Obviously, to anyone who gives the smallest amount of thought on the matter, Apple is not suggesting that the second the iPad leaves the factory, that it is sold.
They are clearly speaking in terms of inventory and production.
Apple's shipped numbers would be even higher because of those 10 you saw in Target. Let it go, Droid101. Google didn't even see fit to show android 4 on a tablet.
The thing is taking badly.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
"Google didn't even see fit to show android 4 on a tablet."
And?
The tablets that are going to be running ICS are coming soon, but that is irrelevant. This was a phone event, the Galaxy Nexus being the key player.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
Funny now maybe the ipads ar ein stcoik but not at release nor the months after its release. No lets turn the table and look at android tablets. You see more android based tablets on the shelves than you do the ipad. So both you and Droid101 need to get a grasp on reality. You too guys are worst than the Mayweather fanclub over on my boxing sites.
true
we don't know any sales numbers for android tablets. just some estimates by "research firms" that pull some numbers out of thin air. all we know is how many units apple sold because they are the only ones who tell us. prepare for the amazon "we sold so amazing many kindle fire we won't tell you how many" bullsh*t next quarter.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
I believe the Kindle Fire will sell well
But the Kindle Fire is not an Android tablet. It is a Kindle eReader that has an OS behind it that no one would know about unless they are actual techies.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
You think the Kindle Fire is a eReader. Well that pretty much sums up your knowledge about the market.
Note: Just because something can read books doesn't mean it's a eReader. Otherwise my computer is a eReader.
anono: where did I say any different?
Please quote me.
The Kindle Fire's primary purpose is as a gateway to Amazon's digital media store. It is an eReader. A fancy eReader but an eReader.
Now, maybe you haven't figured out how to use your computer for doing anything other than buying media from Amazon's digital media store but that is because you have mental deficiencies.
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market
RE: Android giving iOS much-needed competition in tablet market