Tablet Sales Rise as PC Market Struggles

Tablet Sales Rise as PC Market Struggles

by Nathan Eddy

Tablet Shipments Continue to Grow

Tablet shipments are expected to grow 58.7 percent year-over-year in 2013 to 229.3 million units from 144.5 million units last year, according to IDC.

Consumers Moving to Smaller Screen Sizes

Smaller-form-factor tablets in the 7-inch range, led by Android devices and Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets, exploded to overtake the larger-sized segment in terms of total shipments, IDC said.

Falling Prices Spur Demand for Tablets

In 2013, the worldwide average selling prices (ASPs) for tablets is expected to decline 10.8 percent to $381. IDC expects prices to fall further.

Tablet Sales to Soon Eclipse Entire PC Market

IDC expects tablet shipments to outpace the entire PC market (portables and desktops combined) by 2015.

PC Sales Continue to Decline

Global PC shipments are now expected to fall 7.8 percent in 2013, as users consider alternatives, such as delaying a PC purchase or using tablets and smartphones for more of their computing needs, according to IDC.

Transition to Windows 8 Affects PC Sales

The IDC report noted vendors are bringing more products to market that are optimized for Windows 8, including more thin, convertible, touch and slate models.

BYOD Also Having an Impact

The rise of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives means employees are using their own portable devices rather than a company-owned PC, IDC concluded.

Adoption in Western Europe Growing Fastest up North

Led by Norway and Sweden, along with the U.K., Western Europe boasted three countries with smartphone penetration among mobile users above 50 percent in 2012, according to eMarketer.

Japanese Adoption to Pass 50 Percent Next Year

In 2014, more than half the population of Japan is expected to own a smartphone. Australia and South Korea passed that mark in 2012, according to eMarketer.

Canadian Adoption to Bring North America Past Halfway

Canadian adoption of smartphones is expected to pass 50 percent this year, making half of North American residents smartphone owners, according to eMarketer.