[NewsPoster]

Android tablets made a considerable leap in terms of market share last quarter, according to Strategy Analytics. The research firm saw the tablet sector growing compared to the same quarter last year, with Apple's iPad still in the overwhelming lead over any individual competitor. Android-based tablets, though, collectively lopped eight percentage points off of Apple's market share, taking the iPad maker from 64.5 percent of tablet shipments in the third quarter of 2011 to 56.7 percent for the same quarter 2012. Growth in Android tablets also came at the expense of Microsoft and other manufacturers, who saw their shares of shipments declining last quarter.

Overall, the tablet sector shipped 25 million units in the third quarter of 2012. That's up 43 percent from the same quarter in 2011, though analysts at Strategy Analytics expressed disappointment in the totals, attributing them in no small part to a sluggish global economy. This past quarter's growth in tablet shipments was the lowest since the "modern tablet industry" began in Q2 2012 with the introduction of the iPad. Apple shipped 14 million iPads last quarter, while the Android segment moved 10.2 million units. While Apple's shipments were up only three million year-over-year, though, Android shipments more than doubled. That doubling brought Android's share of tablet shipments from 29.2 percent for the third quarter of 2011 to 41.3 percent for this past quarter. Microsoft saw shipments of tablets running its software stay level at about 400,000; given the growth in the tablet market, though, their share declined from 2.3 to 1.6 percent. Microsoft's decline in the sector may be due in part to consumers waiting until the release of Microsoft's Surface tablets and other devices running Windows 8. Strategy Analytics expects that the release of Windows 8 will drive Microsoft's tablet volumes higher in the fourth quarter. Other operating systems, including Research in Motion's BlackBerry OS, dropped from 4.1 percent in q3 2011 to 0.4 percent this year. The past year has seen competition in the tablet sector spiking dramatically. Beginning with the release of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet late last year, the Android platform has continually chipped away at Apple's dominance of the sector, to the degree that some measures have Android nearing parity with Apple in terms of user base. This past summer also saw the introduction of a refreshed Kindle Fire and a new Nexus 7 tablet from Google and Asus, both of which have reportedly gone on to strong sales, even in the wake of Apple's iPad mini announcement.

[wrenchy]

Originally Posted by NewsPoster 

with Apple's iPad still in the overwhelming lead over any individual competitor.

Originally Posted by NewsPoster 

taking the iPad maker from 64.5 percent of tablet shipments in the third quarter of 2011 to 56.7 percent for the same quarter 2012.

Yes, 56.7% is truly an "Overwhelming" lead.

Nice play on words.

[lkrupp]

There's no doubt that bottom feeders like Asus, Samsung, and the like will eventually take the market share away from the iPad as they did with smartphones. Let them race each other to the bottom with thin margins, non-existent profits, and cheap plastic ripoffs. Let them crow about their market share as it means nothing these days. This is NOT a repeat of the Windows/Mac war in which developers sided with Windows. The iOS ecosystem is healthy and strong. Developers overwhelmingly prefer iOS over Android. Advertisers make more money with iOS. The ridiculous fragmentation of Android means no developer can cover every base with their apps. It's a slam dunk for iOS.

Even a loser like Wrenchy knows it.

[DiabloConQueso]

Originally Posted by wrenchy 

Yes, 56.7% is truly an "Overwhelming" lead.
Nice play on words.

Considering the other 43.3% is shared and split amongst a few different companies, yes -- 56.7% is an overwhelming lead.

Unless we're all ganging up now. 8 on 1 or something like that.

[aristotles]

Do we not have any historical actual sales of android tablets? When Apple "ships" they quickly sell and some are even sold out with pre-orders. As we already saw with the actual sale numbers of the galaxy tab, Samsung's "shipped" number is greatly inflated compared to their actual "sales" to consumers.

Shouldn't some analyst be able to look at past trends of shipped versus sold and extrapolate a more accurate number of "sold" Android tablets versus "sold" iPads?

I would estimate that actual sold numbers would put the iPad north of 85%.

[Spheric Harlot]

Agreed. It is hugely annoying that the article does not discern between "shipments" and "sales", despite using the term interchangeably at least once.

Apple shipments are SALES.

Android shipments are shelf ware.

[Eldernorm]

Originally Posted by wrenchy 

Yes, 56.7% is truly an "Overwhelming" lead.
Nice play on words.

Another thing to look at is how many are Amazon tablets that are just ebook readers. While these are sort of tablets, they are really just "sold at cost" consumers of Amazon product.

Wrenchy, you are trying way too hard to sound like an Android troll here. What we really need is a pie chart showing the major breakout of these tablets.

Just a thought.

en

[Eldernorm]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

Do we not have any historical actual sales of android tablets? When Apple "ships" they quickly sell and some are even sold out with pre-orders. As we already saw with the actual sale numbers of the galaxy tab, Samsung's "shipped" number is greatly inflated compared to their actual "sales" to consumers.
Shouldn't some analyst be able to look at past trends of shipped versus sold and extrapolate a more accurate number of "sold" Android tablets versus "sold" iPads?
I would estimate that actual sold numbers would put the iPad north of 85%.

Excellent point. Also I think a pie chart is needed to look at those Amazon tablets that are just ebook readers. While they are sort of tablets, they really are not set up to do any real creation work.

Just a thought.
en

[prl99]

Originally Posted by Eldernorm 

Another thing to look at is how many are Amazon tablets that are just ebook readers. While these are sort of tablets, they are really just "sold at cost" consumers of Amazon product.
Wrenchy, you are trying way too hard to sound like an Android troll here. What we really need is a pie chart showing the major breakout of these tablets.
Just a thought.
en

I saw an ad for a Nikon camera powered by Android. I wonder when these will be counted as tablets to offset iOS devices. I've always loved statistics; they can be twisted to present anything one is pushing. Same with ads. The Chevy Malibu looks like it's a world-beater yet its resale value is very low because nobody wants one (Investopedia, cars that depreciate in value the most). I look at Android tablets the same way, all hype no value.