Research firm IDC says that 2013 will be the year when the volume of Android tablets sales will finally dethrone iPad from the top with a predicted market share of around of around 48.8% for Android tablets against 46% for iPads. Android tablets might rule by volumes but a major chunk of the profits will still go to Apple as it is the only company owning 46% whereas the 48.8% of Android tablets will be shared amongst hundreds of tablet manufacturers.
Thanks to Amazon, with the introduction of Kindle Fire the importance of smaller and more portable low cost tablets was understood by the market. Since then we have seen a surge of tablets with screen size less than 8″. IDC says that currently almost 50% of the tablets sold overall are with a screen size less than 8″.
This demand for smaller tablets will push the overall sales of tablets to a staggering 190.9 million in 2013 compared to 128.8 million in 2012. Apple, which was quite adamant on having better usability on a 10″ tablet also joined the race with its smaller version tablet, iPad mini. Apple is predicted to hold a major market share with almost a share of 43.5% even till 2017 says IDC.
Apple makes more profits from its hardware as well as its software with the help of App Store. Even though Android tablets are flooding the market there are hardly any dedicated tablet apps making use of the large screen, this one factor is enough for Apple to still retain a stronghold in the tablet segment.