Over 50 million tablets to be sold in 2011

We just can't help loving the tabs

Over 50 million tablets to be sold in 2011

18 October 2010 13:00 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Business analyst guru Gartner has predicted that our love affair with all things tablet is set to grow - with an estimated 54.8 million likely to be sold next year and an incredible 208 million units to be shifted in 2014.

The iPad is by far the tablet market leader at present, with an estimated 8.25 million sales so far. It's being predicted that the universal tablet figure is on course to reach a predicted 19.5 million this year.

Gartner's report suggests that the North American market will make up 61 per cent of the global market for 2010, but that its dominance will fall to 43 per cent by 2014 as tablets become ubiquitous in other nations

The rise of the tablet won't be without casualties though, according to the analysts. They say that devices such as eBook readers, hand-held consoles and netbooks are all likely to see a slump in sales.

"Mini notebooks will suffer from the strongest cannibalisation threat as media tablet average selling prices drop below $300 over the next 2 years", said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner.

What's the tab for you?

Are you a proud fanboy? If so, check out our Apple iPad review.

Or maybe you're after some Android action? If that's the case then be sure to read our Samsung Galaxy Tab - First Look review.

Perhaps you think Windows tablets will be the winner in the end? We got a UK exclusive on the Tega v2.

Also, have a look see at our tablet comparison feature, which features RIM's BlackBerry tablet.

Via: macworld.co.uk Via: blogs.gartner.com

Read our review of the new iPad (3rd generation)

Full tags

Gartner, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Tega v2, Tablets, iPad