The iPad’s tablet market share has dropped below 30 per cent despite overall growth in the tablet market.
According to preliminary research from the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple’s share of the tablet market has decreased.
iPad shipments slipped from 14.6 miillion units in Q2 2013 to 14.1 million in Q3. This is due in part to Apple moving its iPad launches from Spring to Autumn, meaning there was a large gap between iPad generations.
During the three month period ending in September, Apple’s tablet market share fell to 29.6 per cent, the lowest it has ever been.
Of course, with the iPad Air released tomorrow November 1 and the iPad mini 2 with Retina display arriving later in November, Apple’s market share dip is bound to only be temporary.
Overall IDC estimates that 47.6 million tablets were shipped during Q3 2013, suggesting the tablet market has grown 7 per cent from Q2. From the same period last year, the shipment figure has grown a whopping 37 per cent.
Android is eating into Apple in the tablet market, with Samsung continuing to dominant with a 20.4 per cent tablet market share.
Asus is the second largest Android tablet manufacturer with 7.4 per cent market share.
Tablet manufacturers like Amazon, Microsoft and HP all fall into the “others” category in the IDC data. Combined these and other Android or Windows tablet manufacturers shipped 16.8 million units during the quarter.
Compared to the previous year, this Others category has grown 25 per cent, with a 35.3 per cent market share. However, from Q2 2013 their market share fell 3.8 per cent.
Next, read our iPad Air vs iPad 4 comparison.
