An expected decline in iPad shipments prompted IDC to lower its 2015 ou tlook for the global tablet sector this week.
The research firm expects volumes to reach 234.5 million units in 2015, up 2.1% on 2014. The company previously forecast growth of 5.2%, said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research director, tablets at IDC.
Apple’s iPad is thought to be the weak link, with shipments expected to fall to 60.1 million this year from 63.4 million last year. Android tablet volumes will edge up to 158.1 million from 154.7 million, while Windows is expected to grow to 16.3 million from 11.6 million, IDC said.
"Microsoft is doing a lot of good things right now and we believe the launch of Windows 10 later this year will not only have a significant impact on Microsoft’s share of the market, but on the industry as a whole," said Bouchard.
"There is an appetite for a platform that can provide a productivity experience that remains consistent across multiple form factors and device types, and we believe Microsoft is well positioned to capture some of that demand," he said.
Looking further ahead to 2019, IDC predicts global tablet shipments will hit 269.4 million. By then Windows’ market share is expected to have grown to 14.1% from 5.1% in 2014. By comparison, Android’s market share is expected to fall to 62.9% from 67.3%, while Apple’s will fall to 23% from 27.6%.
