While market-leader Apple saw its share slide from 51.7 percent to 43.6 percent, despite a rise in sales, Samsung’s Galaxy range sold a total of 7.9 million units, up from 2.2 million the previous year, taking its market share to 15.1 percent.
Global shipments of tablet PCs surged 75 percent in the final quarter of 2012 to a record 52.5 million units. "We expected a very strong fourth quarter, and the market didn't disappoint," said Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets at IDC. "New product launches from the category's top vendors, as well as new entrant Microsoft, led to a surge in consumer interest and very robust shipments totals during the holiday season."
The tablet PC market is expected to grow further in the coming years, with an ever increasing number of firms launching tablets in an attempt to cash in on the booming sector. Among the more recent entrants is Microsoft, which launched its Surface tablets, powered by the Windows 8 system, late last year.
