iPad Outsold Samsung Tablets 7-to-1 In The Second Quarter

According to the estimates released by IDC, tablet shipments reached 25 million units in the second quarter and Apple’s iPad accounted for 68% of that volume. IDC noted that despite high 117.6% year-over-year growth in shipments Samsung still saw its tablets significantly outnumbered by the iPad. Research director at IDC Tom Mainelli said:

"Apple built upon its strong March iPad launch and ended the quarter with its best-ever shipment total for the iPad, outrunning even the impressive shipment record it set in the fourth quarter of last year. The vast majority of consumers continue to favor the iPad over competitors, and Apple is seeing increasingly strong interest in the device from vertical markets—especially education”.

Samsung, Apple and ASUS saw considerable year-over-year growth in tablets shipments and Amazon made a strong entry into the tablet market with the Kindle Fire. Smaller market players saw shipment decreases year-over-year, with Acer’s shipments shrinking by nearly 40% and the combined shipments of “other” smaller manufacturers dropping by 16%.

Riding the momentum of the new iPad 3, in the second quarter Apple set a new record with iPad’s shipments  totaling 17 million units, up from 11.8 million tablets shipped in the previous quarter. With competitors releasing smaller tablets that have allowed them to bring tablet prices down to $199, Apple is reportedly planning to release its own “iPad mini” this year to capture that portion of the tablet market as well.