Global sales of media tablets are expected to grow 60 percent over Christmas compared with last year, with Apple continuing to rule the roost, according to financial research and banking firm FBR Capital Markets in its inaugural “tablet tracker” report.
Craig Berger, an analyst with FBR, said the projected 60 percent year-over-year growth is “impressive, considering the iPad was already very popular and widely available one year ago.
“FBR estimates that Apple will ship 21 million iPads in the fourth quarter, up from 15 million for the same period last year. For the year, it estimates that Apple will ship 67.7 million tablets, up from 46.5 million in 2011 – and next year it is predicted to ship 102 million iPad and iPad minis while no Android tablet has been able to garner more than 15 million
Berger said FBR expects the iPad mini will boost Apple’s tablet market share to peak at 64 percent in the second quarter of 2013, up from 58 percent in Q3 year.
“However, we expect that by the end of 2013, the constant deluge of cheaper Android-based tablets will begin to chip away at Apple’s market share,” Berger said.
Chip away they may, but Apple still appears set to remain the No 1 brand for 2013 by a huge margin. FBR is predicting sales of 102 million iPads in 2013 – comprising 83.5 million large-size iPads and 18.5 million iPad minis.
The nearest rival brand name is Amazon’s Kindle Fire, with just over 15 million sales expected, less than a sixth the size of Apple.That will be followed by Google Nexus (9 million) and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab at 7.4 million.
Other Android-powered tablets – of which there are now scores if not hundreds – should take 25 percent of the market, but with no one brand likely to get more than a few percentage points.
FBR estimates that the iPad and iPad mini will contribute about $525 million to chipmaker Qualcomm’s total sales in 2012 and about $550 million in 2013. Broadcom – which supplies chips handling the iPad’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM connections- stands to gain about $305 million in 2012 and $400 million in 2013.
