iPad losing to Android tablets

BANGALORE: Google’s Android has extended its dominance over Apple’s iOS in the tablet arena early this year, reveals the research firm, Strategy Analytics.

According to Strategy Analytics, Android’s global table sales surged to 65.8 percent in the first quarter, up from 53 percent a year ago. Elsewhere, Apple’s slow iPad sales brought its market share down to 28.4 percent from 40.3 percent. Furthermore, the global tablet sales have risen by 19 percent at 57.6 million units.

“Android continues to make steady progress and now commands two-thirds of the tablet market share,” says Peter King, Director of the Tablet and Touch screen Strategies Service, Strategy Analytics. iPad sales are down by 16 percent from the same period a year ago. “We believe that the disappointing performance in the early part of the calendar year is because Apple has changed its products release cycle to the holiday timeframe,” adds King. He also expects Apple to lose share to refreshed Android products in the coming months. However, he believes Apple will win back “meaningful” high-end market share towards the end of the calendar year.

Android sales totaled about 38 million while Apple’s sales totaled to 25.6 million. On a different note, tablets running Windows also saw a rise in its sales figures, from 2.8 million to 3.4 million.