The iPad and iPad 2 are taking some hits from Android as newer tablets from a variety of manufacturers have started to spring up. The Samsung Galaxy Tab, HP TouchPad and other tablets might not be strong individually, but the combined force of all of these tablets has taken a good chunk of Apple’s market, says ABI Research, which notes that Android media tablets have collectively taken 20% market share away from the iPad in the last 12 months.
"Many vendors have introduced media tablets, but none are separating themselves from the pack to pose a serious threat to Apple. In fact, most have introduced products at prices higher than similarly-configured iPads," said ABI analyst Jeff Orr.
The future is also shaping up to be a bit of a nuisance for Apple, as over fifty companies are planning on getting into the very profitable tablet market. Not too long ago, many scoffed at the idea of what exactly a tablet was for. By 2015, unit sales are estimated to pass 120 million.
ABI still believes that tablets are in a small-scale adoption stage, noting that Android still lacks in overall experience. Orr suggests that Android is “[creating] a negative perception in the minds of the mass consumer audience about the readiness of media tablets to be fully functional within the next several years. Good user experiences and product response are needed to propel this market beyond the 'early adopter' stage."
All in all, the growing number of vendors and consumers is a good sign, but with such market fragmentation, there is little to be said about the current state of the market and its ability to continue the growth spurt. With three OS offerings on dozens of hardware choices, there is far too much to choose from. All in all, more unification is more than likely the answer, should any company wish to truly take on Apple in the tablet market.
