NPD DisplaySearch: Tablet PCs will outsell notebooks this year

Santa Clara, CA, United States (4E) – This is the year tablet PC shipments will exceed notebook PC shipments according to global market research firm NPD DisplaySearch. An estimated 240 million tablet PC units are expected to ship in 2013 compared to 207 million units expected for notebook PCs.

Apple still dominates the tablet PC market with its 9.7″ iPad but it’s expected that 7-8″ tablet PCs will take over the tablet market this year. An estimated 108 million units of 7-8″ PC tablets (45 percent) will be shipped this year compared to only 41 million units of 9.7″ PC tablets (17 percent).

The latest offering of new screen sizes has changed the landscape of the tablet market. China will soon hold 27 percent of the tablet market worldwide because of the emergence of strong local brands. The United States will remain the largest shareholder with 35 percent of the tablet PC market.

Tablet PC sales will continue to struggle this year because of declining demand.

“The tablet PC market saw increasing investments in North America in the second half of 2012, from major brands that tested not only new screen sizes and price points, but also unconventional business models to support their efforts,” said Richard Shim, senior analyst with NPD DisplaySearch.

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