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Detachable tablets are set to drive growth in the tablet market beyond 2016, with Windows growing its market share, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).The IDC has forecast that detachable tablets are set to grow from 8 per cent of the tablet market in 2015 to 30 per cent in 2020, growing from 16.6 million shipments last year to 63.8 million in 2020.
Worldwide tablet shipments are forecast to drop to 195 million units this year, declining 5.9 per cent year-on-year, while beyond 2016, the IDC expects the overall market to return to positive single-digit growth, driven by the growing detachable demand.
“Beyond the growing demand for detachable devices, we’re also witnessing an increase in competition within this segment that will help drive design, innovation and a decline in average prices,” Jean Philippe Bouchard, IDC research director, tablets, commented.
“At the latest Mobile World Congress, we saw new entrants, like Alcatel and Huawei, coming from the mobile space and expanding their portfolio to address the demand for detachables.
“Everyone in the industry recognises that traditional personal computers like desktops and notebooks will potentially be replaced by detachables in the coming years, and this is why we will see a lot of new products being introduced this year.”
The IDC states that the move to detachables is set to bring two other changes to the tablet industry, with devices with larger screen sizes (9″ and above) to experience growth throughout the forecast, while those under 9″ will decline, while Microsoft-based devices will begin taking share from the other platforms, most notably Android.
“This momentous shift in form factor will bring along the first significant impact of Windows-based devices that the tablet market has seen,” Ryan Reith, IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers program director, commented.
“Windows 10 seems to be making headway in both the PC and tablet markets, mainly driven by devices with larger screen sizes. Despite the free licensing on products under 9″, the growth for Windows-based tablets will be primarily on devices with displays between 9 and 13”.
“Until we see a day where touch is introduced for Mac OS X and inroads are paved to bring Android and Chrome more closely aligned, we believe Windows remains the logical choice for detachable products.”
The IDC has forecast Windows will command a 53.3 per cent worldwide detachable market share this year, rising to 74.6 per cent in 2020, Android to capture an 18.2 per cent market share this year, declining to 18.1 per cent in 2020, and iOS to claim a 28.5 per cent share this year, declining to 7.3 per cent in 2020.
