44.6 million tablets to ship in 2011

Apple had a great 2010, selling many millions of iPads and ensuring that many other companies would take an interest in the tablet sector. This market is so strong that 44.6 million tablets are going to be shipped worldwide in 2011, over 2.5 times as many as 2010.

IDC has also predicted that Googles Android operating system will be the main cause of the growth, even though the iPad was responsible for 4.2 million of the 4.8 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2010.

There is always the possibility that the market has been misjudged and that many companies will be left with surplus stock in 2011, especially as Apple are going to release their iPad2 to help fight off competition. Sales from other companies have yet to really show that this market is accepting of other non-Apple solutions although we would expect quality, lower cost alternatives with the Android OS to sell reasonably well.

KitGuru says: Is 2011 the year you buy a tablet?

Become a Patron!