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IT MAY HAVE taken longer than expected, but Android tablets finally overtook the iPad in market share in 2013.
Research from Gartner found that more than 120 million Android tablets were sold during 2013, giving it 62 per cent of the market.
In comparison, Apple’s iPad sold 70 million units, which meant it has 36 per cent of the market.
Microsoft saw modest growth as well, but it only accounts for 2 per cent of the overall market as it sold just over four million Windows 8 tablets last year.
The biggest winner from this was Samsung which saw a major increase in the number of tablets sold. It sold 37 million tablets last year compared to the eight million it sold in 2012.
That’s slightly more than half of the number of iPads sold in 2013, making Apple the most popular tablet manufacturer in the world.
Gartner says that the reasons for Android taking the top spot was because of the low-end smaller screen tablet market, and first time buyers looking for cheaper devices.
While the reasons behind the increase was expected, what is surprising is how long it’s taken to reach this point, considering the number of companies out there making low and mid-range Android tablets.
While the number of tablets sold means that Android is the more popular platform used, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it translates to large profits for manufacturers. Google, however, won’t care as it Android is now first in an industry that was previously dominated by Apple.
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I always felt that this wasn’t a fair comparison. You’re comparing multiple android tablets to one ipad. It’s like comparing the sales of every model of toyota car to the sale one model of an opel and then saying toyota is winning.
There is more than one variant of the apple ipad.
there is more than one varient of the Opel Astra too.
Not really.
Would be more fair to say its comparing engines not body.
Android is streets ahead in what it allows you to do. Read mpgs avi and mp3 without having to use tge horrible I tunes to convert. Its highly customisable and offers direct access to the hard drive.
Posers go with apple. Techies go with Android ;)
People incapable of dealing with their own inadequacies demean other peoples’ choices. Grow up!
(Insert ironic smiley face here)
They’re comparing Android vs Apple’s OS, Liam. How is that unfair? They’re both operating systems. It’s not Android’s fault that Apple will only let its OS run on 1 brand.
James that’s bullsh!t.what class would you out pensioners or older people that wouldn’t be up to speed with smart phones?most of the older generation go for android are you saying they’re all techies
@James o donoghue – its absolute rubbish to say techie people go with andriod. Im about the most techie person going and have a highly technical job in a multinational and I know apple beat andriod hands down. Its simplicity and great design are huge technical achievements which are not matched by android devices and apps. The only reason android outsells apple is because its in every cheap POS going.
John it’s ok. It’s not your fault. You had apple macs in college. You have been brain washed.
Fair play to Apple.
They do get them young.
John Dobermann: “Its simplicity and great design”
Right, so it’s for simple people (i.e. non techies) and looks good as a fashion accessory?
And I’d pick the design of the Samsumg S4 over the rehashed iPhone 5 any day.
“not matched by android devices and apps”
The LG G2 is the best phone out there today for speed & functionality. Just look at it: http://www.stuff.tv/android/lg-g2/review
Poor fanboys – so delusional. How many black polo necks do you own, John?
Ha ha gobsh!te do you really think that’s going to be the front runner in smart phones now?dream on
Fanboy, fanboys everywhere.
I like competition. Apple make great products but have got away with restricting the consumer. Only thing android is lacking is proper decent apps. Too many shoddy developers making crappy low budget, quick cash games + apps on android
And thats how it will continue.
It’s about freedom to innovate, as the developer decides, on Android – Apple app developers don’t have that sort of luxury. As a result there are a large amount of low-quality apps available for Android, however there are also lots of amazing ones that are pushing Android ahead of iOS – Swype and Cover for Android being two perfect examples of apps that will never exist within the iOS ecosystem due to Apple’s restrictive policies.
Brilliant! Samsung Hardware paired with Goggle’s Android software is a winning combination.
Android is great.
Send from my iPad.
Nice, but Apple can spell… ;-)
I wouldn’t buy an apple product even if they were better… and they’re not.
So, you’re saying that you wouldn’t buy a better device, even if you knew it was better… Right, that makes sense!
There not better u cant remove the batt on a fone if it freezes how is that better??over priced shite apple is
Hard reset.
I never said which I thought was better, each to their own I say, was just trying to make sense of Jimbos illogical statement.
Still over priced for a phone nd tablet maximise profits screw the apple customers t the wall
Grainne, apple customers arent being screwed, if all you can afford to buy is android then thats what you get. There are €50 android phones & €100 android tablets, however much you hate apple these €50 & €100 devices do not and will not stand up to iphones or ipads OR galaxy phones or tablets which if you didnt realise are NOT far off the price of ipads & iphones themselves.
Also, I’ve never had an iPhone freeze on me, maybe that’s an exclusive android feature?
Yeah but still cheaper than apple, I can use flash on my phone . Something iphone lacks, oh I have money there to buy anything I want just couldn’t justify payin 600 euro for a status that apple brings. When galaxy are just as good as are htc nd sony. I got a galaxy unlockes off meteor for 350 been bounced around the place still works hasbt frizen and I can change the battery when it gets weak which is a flaw for apple. And sonys camera is bettee than apple because the ios7 made there cameras diabolical. Actually dropped an iphone for a galaxy cause it was SOOOOOO much better. :)
Plenty of my friends one has froze have one at home there froze. Its just a “status” phone thats it.
I bought a HTC One a few months back, a phone which many people argue is better than the latest iPhone and Galaxy S iterations. Not wanting to be too blinkered I did look into the possibility of getting the iPhone despite the last Apple product I had breaking just after a year of nothing less than good care for it. Would have cost me €100 more up front and €20 more a month after that as well as being tied to a contract 6 months longer than the one I have now. That’s a pretty big difference in price. Samsung though do seem to be jacking their prices a lot too.
Flash? Jeez you’re behind the times there Grainne.
iOS 7 made the camera worse?
I had an apple for a while ios7 came out nd the pictures were worse didnt use the camera anymore after it as I enjoyd taken pictures and it ruined it for me.
Personally I wouldn’t buy an iPad for the simple reason i’m all setup for android. But according to Tablets reviews the best 2 Tablets available at the moment are
1. Apple – iPad Air 32GB wi-fi
2. Samsung – Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
While the iPad air did start out more expensive than the Galaxy Note that has swung. The iPad air is now about €45 cheaper.
Well according to http://tablets-review.toptenreviews.com/ the iPad Air is 7th and the Note 10.1 is 10th. Reviews are always subjective, that said the Google Nexus always seems highly regarded. It’s 2nd on this list for instance
Yeah sorry, I should have said according to a review. The review i was going by was on http://which.co.uk But its interesting looking at the link you posted. Does anyone really know whats better :-)
Just tried this link http://www.toptenreviews.com/configurator/tablets-review/ and it looks like i should buy the Toshiba
Hahah did someone just use Flash as an argument for Android. 2002 called and they want their tech back.
You can put all the facts and figures on paper but the reality is that android on any device is junk. I’ve seen Galaxy S4 just stop working a few weeks out of the box, very laggy and unresponsive for such a high end phone. Saw samsung tablets that nieces and nephews got for Xmas all are bricked already .. 2 just failed and one back plastic fell apart.
And the Galaxy S5.. Plastic junk.
At least HTC and Sony have the sense to make high quality aluminium phones.. All the Samsung fanboys say Apple are ripping off their customers but Apple customers are not the ones with poorly made plastic phones.
It’s like a Fiat owner saying Mercedes are ripping off their customers.
Bartrude, you are the worst type of fanboy. Grow up. Pathetic.
Funny thing, The Journal app for Android is a little better than the iPad app, when you turn Android Tablets sideways a link to previous and following articles appears at the side of the screen and this doesn’t happen on iPads. iPads are better in some ways but for the price they should be better in every way, and this plainly isn’t the case.
That’s not a “android is better than ios” argument .. That’s a feature that the journal decided to put into their android app. Nothing to do with anything really.
What does the widget look like on iPads…oh wait, they don’t support widgets, do they?
The better apple is the better android has to be and vice versa. So it’s win win. Then it’s just personal choice. Personally I prefer android overall but apple apps are much better generally
Android is on multiple devices made by multiple companies…most of them quite basic at a very reduced “bargain” price.
The iPad is a premium tablet only released by Apple for a premium price.
I don’t think there is a comparison there really.
You are wrong on that, – even low end android tablets are far from “basic” in terms of features. There are plenty of high end android tablets also. Android is a superior OS on many levels.
The Nexus is probably a more accurate comparision with the ipad in terms of of “like-for-like” though, – and most who have used one would say it wins hands down.
Have an android tablet and an iPad. Pros and cons to both but Apple is better. More user friendly.
It’s not that much device vs device now anyway it’s more about platform vs platform. i.e. If someone bought for hundreds of euros into apps, movies and music from iTunes they are not going to ever buy android tablet as those multimedia are not transferable. And vice versa. You spent small fortune in Google Play – your next phone or tablet won’t be Apple even if it was an amazing piece of electronics.
I moved after 4 years with apple. So do a few more I know.
Personally my big mistake was leaving it so long
I moved after 2 years with an iPhone. I really liked the iPhone, but just wanted a change to see what the fuss was about. I don’t think I could go back to iPhone now unless they start making bigger phones. My wife’s iPhone 5 looks like a wee toy.
Google is the new apple. Apple have lost it’s greatest mind and it was only a matter of time before signs of slipping in the competitive market would show for them.
Agreed. Apple stopped beibg innovative when jobs left shortly before he died.
History repeating. When he lefy apple first time they were on par with Microsoft but then almost died away till jobs came back and rebuilt. Sadly he won’t be back this time.
When exactly were Apple innovative? They didn’t build the first personal computer, they didn’t build the first laptop, they didn’t build the first MP3 player, they didn’t build the first touchscreen phone, they didn’t built the first tablet computer. They’re masters of marketing, not technology.
Leopold, come on, you have to recognise that Apple were master-innovators in the design of attractive user-experiences and completely redefined the way users interacted and used technology interfaces. You’re correct in that Apple didn’t create the first of those devices you listed above, but can you honestly claim they didn’t completely redefine the individual markets and create whole new market-segments when they designed the Apple II, iPod, iPhone, iTunes and iPad?
Have any of the Android Vendors innovated with their Tablet and Smartphone – not a single one – they copied everything Apple did.
Dave, most of what you have said backs up my initial point. I don’t deny that they completely overhauled the market especially when it comes to the iPhone, not so much with the iPod as I remember lots of people had MP3′s back then anyway. My point is that they haven’t come up with much in the way of technological marvels, it’s like you said they just redefined the markets by making these products appealing to a mass-market. They get a lot of credit for being “innovative” and Jobs himself has a efw quotes on that subject when really they just took a Fiat and stuck a Ferrari’s body over it. And I agree that Android vendors don’t come up with anything new either however it’s wrong to say that they copy everything Apple do. iOS has quite a few features lifted from Android as well
“They just took a Fiat and stuck a Ferrari’s body over it” – I find it astonishing how your downplaying the impact Apple’s innovations in the user-experience across those respective devices to this glib analogy. Call Apple’s products expensive, call them restricted (when compared to the more open, flexible Android platform), call them arrogant, but can you honestly label Apple products as nothing more than a shiny, flashy exterior but essentially a poor platform underneath? Especially when you look at some of the absolute dross Android Tablets available in the Market today in Tesco and Harvey Norman?
Aren’t iPhones just fashion accessories? Every girl has one to go with their nice handbag. People who are into their tech use Android phones & tablets.
The only people I know with iPhones are girls & hipsters. They’re a fashion accessory. How could they not be, when Android has more functionality & flexibility? iPhone users have opted for style over substance. You can’t even change any settings on an iPhone, except the basics.
Girls and Hipsters? It appears to be completely opposite Gobblor – Apple continues to dominate the Tablet and Smartphone choice in BYOD Enterprises where users are permitted to bring in their own devices and here’s the latest data as well as associated Enterprise demographics of these activations: http://media.www1.good.com/documents/rpt-mobility-index-q413.pdf
It’s a bit of a pointless article as the iPad is still the most popular tablet.
Which one?
“It’s a bit of a pointless article as the iPad is still the most popular tablet.”
It’s an article about operating systems’ popularity, not devices’
The reason this has happened is because every tween at Christmas who wanted a tablet got a €99 android or galaxy tab for €160 in Harvey Normans or wherever because (and rightly so) parents aren’t going to shell out €299 minimum for an iPad.
Rest assure though if you could get iOS on a €99 device this wouldn’t be happening
“Rest assure though if you could get iOS on a €99 device this wouldn’t be happening”
And if they had wings they’d probably be able to fly.
What’s your point?
Oh sure would you look who it is Mr Snidey Pants himself .. My point is that you can’t compare bananas and lemons.
One company who makes premium devices and an operating system only available on one set of devices vs an operating system on a slew of devices from cheap Chinese tablets to high end Korean ones. It’s not a comparable situation.
It’s like comparing sales of BMW cars to the rest of the entire car market.
“It’s like comparing sales of BMW cars to the rest of the entire car market.”
It’s nothing like it. This article is about two operating systems.
Brilliant! Samsung hardware paired with Google’s Android Software is a winning combination.
you can say that again!
You already said that, you dope.
Android – for those who can’t afford apple.
Sent from my iPad !!
iPad
Cuz I am too thick to use computers.
Sent with android
Excuse ny brevity
Why does every debate on The Journal degenerate into an argument about who’s got the most money?
This doesn’t happen on the Guardian website,
It confirms a suspicion that many people just buy Apple stuff to show how wealthy they are.
Android all the way. … Apple brainwash ..
Apple’s build quality is light years ahead of the competition.
So good, apple released an app to replace the broken home button.
All these phones and tablets get their parts from the same factory.
At the end of the day you get what you pay for, that’s why Apple is more expensive than android.
Best move I have made moving to android
You do realize Apple makes the device, the operating system, and controls and maintains the the related virtual ecosystem for the iPad. They make money from all these parts. Google gives the software away and makes nothing. Market share in this market is about devices sold not operating systems used. The android tablet device share is split among a dozen or more manufactures. Another way to look at it is dollar share, which Apple also maintains a dominate unquestioned lead. What a bunch of sloppy republishing of sensationalized, and or gotcha journalism. You pick the descriptor.
Another nothing story to get up the page views.
Good stuff Journal.
Another hipster failing to see the irony.
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