Apple dominating the global tablet market

The global tablet market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% over the next six years, increasing from a 2012 value of $40.4 billion, to be worth $181.5 billion by 2018.

Tablet display shipments are projected to rise worldwide by 56% in 2012 to 126.6 million units, up from 82.1 million units in 2011.

The global tablet market is expected to achieve significant growth in the coming years as the internet becomes increasingly accessible for devices, provides large screen visualisation of Internet digital data, and provides significant ease of use for a computing device.

This is in the context of a world communications infrastructure that is changing. Technology is enabling interaction, innovation, and sharing of knowledge in new ways. Tablets promise to bring significant new Internet access capability making the Internet available for increasingly productive, efficient use.

2012 has so far seen a significant jump in tablet screen quality; from resolution, to panel technology, to the types of LEDs, tablet screens look better. With rumours of Samsung getting ready to leapfrog all current tablet displays, things are bound to get only more exciting.

According to the latest numbers, Apple's share of the global tablet market has nearly returned to its all-time high from the first quarter of 2011.

In the second quarter of 2012, the company shipped a combined total of 17 million new Retina display-equipped iPads and iPad 2 tablets, an increase of 44.1% from 11.8 million in the first quarter and enough to capture 69.6% of the global tablet market.

The company's closest competitor was Samsung, which lost market share last quarter despite an increase in channel sales. The South Korean manufacturer shipped 2.25 million tablets last quarter compared to 2.19 million in the first quarter, but its second-quarter market share fell to 9.2% from 10.8% in the previous quarter.

For more information on the global tablet market, see the latest research: Global Tablet Market Report

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