Apple still leading but slowly losing in tablet market

by Steven Mostyn - Jan 27 2012, 08:30

Although the iOS-powered iPad tablet continues to draw the majority of prospective buyers at retail, the momentum of platforms carrying Google’s Android software is quickly gathering pace behind Apple’s device.

That’s according to a Strategic Analytics report focusing on the brand breakdown and worldwide shipment of tablet computer systems during 2011’s fourth quarter.

Specifically, Q4’s numbers show Apple’s iPad leading the sector with a healthy 58 percent market share (15.4 million unit sales), but that figure equates to a 10 percent year-on-year loss for the Cupertino-based tech outlet.

Notably, that loss has evidently been picked up by increasingly popular Android-powered tablets, which helped push Google’s year-on-year quarterly share from 29 percent to 39 percent (10.5 million sales).

The research specialist points to Amazon’s cheap and cheerful Kindle Fire as a contributing factor in Android’s boosted performance. The online retailer’s device runs a modified version of Android and costs a mere $199 USD—some $300 USD less than the iPad.

In terms of total spread, global tablet shipments hit 26.8 million units in Q4, which is a whopping 150 percent increase over the 10.7 million units racked up in Q4 of 2010.

Full-year shipment figures have also seen a considerable spike during 2011, reaching 66.9 million units compared to the 18.6 million recorded throughout 2010.

So much for tablet device being little more than a fleeting touch-screen gimmick.

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