Apple’s iPad dominates the tablet market and accounts for 90 percent of all tablets sold in the third quarter, according to IDC data. Meanwhile, Amazon has a commanding 41.5 percent share of the e-reader market.
IDC reports that Apple’s iPad drove tablet demand almost exclusively in the third quarter. Global tablet shipments in the third quarter checked in at 4.8 million units in the third quarter, up from 3.3 million in the second quarter.
In addition, e-reader shipments were 2.7 million units in the third quarter, up 40 percent from a year ago. Price cuts helped spur e-reader sales. The U.S. market accounts for almost 75 percent of the global e-reader market.
For 2010, IDC estimates that 17 million tablets will ship. In 2011, the tablet tally will be about 44.6 million. While Apple has a massive lead, the ramp of Android based tablets are expected to surge. In many respects, IDC’s third quarter data is just a preview. The Samsung Galaxy Tab was the first high-end Android tablet to launch and will garner some fourth quarter sales. But the onslaught of Android tablets is yet to come.
As for the e-reader market, IDC notes some interesting items. Pandigital, which makes e-readers with e-paper and LCD screens was No. 2 in market share. Barnes & Noble was No. 3 and Sony, which features e-readers with higher prices was a distant No. 4.
Related: All tablet content
