Android surges while consumers wait for new iPads
Apple has seen its tablet market share decline during the third quarter of the year to Google Android rivals.
The iPad maker has seen its share in the tablet market drop 15.1 percent to 50.4 percent, according to IDC. The charge of Android tablets was led by Samsung and Amazon with the former shipping 5.1 million tablets during the quarter.
Although Apple saw a drop in its market share, IDC puts this down to, in part, consumers waiting for new versions of the iPad including the highly anticipated iPad mini.
Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets at IDC said: "We believe a sizeable percentage of consumers interested in buying an Apple tablet sat out the third quarter in anticipation of an announcement about the new iPad mini. Now that the new mini, and a fourth-generation full-sized iPad, are both shipping we expect Apple to have a very good quarter."
The tablet market grew 49.5 percent year on year, with the top five non-Apple vendors all seeing an increase in shipments. Samsung saw a 325 percent growth while Asus, which makes the Google Nexus 7, saw a growth of 243 percent.
"However, we believe the mini's relatively high $329 (£269) starting price leaves plenty of room for Android vendors to build upon the success they achieved in the third quarter." added Mainelli.
Tablets will no doubt be a popular gift this Christmas and adding into the mix are a shed load of Windows 8 tablets including Microsoft's own Surface.
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