Android Tablets More Popular Than iPad: Report

It may seem like the Apple iPad is a ubiquitous device, but a new report suggests that sales of Android-based tablet computers will soon surpass those of Apple slates. Overall, it's expected the tablet market will boom in 2013.

According to a new report from research firm IDC, the total number of tablet computers shipped this year will reach 190 million units.

That's an increase from earlier predictions from IDC, which had previously forecast sales of roughly 172 million units. (Source: cnet.com)

Smaller Tablets Help Market Grow

Reports indicate that the emergence of smaller, lower-priced tablet devices -- such as Google's Nexus 7 -- have helped boost an already surging tablet market.

"One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below 8 inches in screen size," noted Jitesh Ubrani, an analyst at IDC. "And in terms of shipments, we expect smaller tablets to continue growing in 2013 and beyond."

Ubrani says that many consumers consider these smaller tablet devices "more ideal than larger tablets for their daily consumption habits." (Source: forbes.com)

Google Android Tablets to Surge in Popularity

Although Apple has introduced its own smaller device, the iPad Mini, in an attempt to corral some of these consumers who prefer smaller tablets, experts believe this market shift will mostly benefit makers of Android-based devices.

Aside from the Nexus 7, a list of popular Android-based tablet computers would include the Amazon Kindle Fire, Huawei MediaPad 7, and the Samsung Galaxy Note.

All in all, IDC researchers say they believe Android-based devices will expand their share of the tablet market to roughly 49 per cent in 2013.

Windows 8 tablets like Microsoft's Surface device are also expected to become more popular, with market share increasing from 1 per cent in 2012 to almost 3 per cent this year.

By 2017, it's expected that Windows 8-based tablets will account for more than 7 per cent of the tablet market.

Meanwhile, Apple's share of the tablet market will decline, from 51 per cent in 2012 to 46 per cent in 2013.