Tablets to Experience 42.7% Growth Year-Over-Year in 2013, Says Gartner

Tablets are shown to continue the already started cannibalization of traditional PC sales, a new study from Gartner showcases.

Slate shippings are expected to grow with a whopping 42.7% this year, reaching a total number of 184 million units. The PC business is still selling more in terms of overall units, with a forecast set to 303,100 for 2013. But when looking at the big picture, the overall trend is declining sales, with a difference of 11.2% compared to 2012.

By 2014, Gartner now expects that the difference between tablet and PC shipments will shrink even more and reach a tiny 18,000 units gap. Users are predicted to continue picking up smaller and cheaper slates, like 7-inch models, very high in demand at the moment.

Tablets are also going to impact sales in the smartphone sector, at least when the holiday sector is concerned.

“Continuing on the trend we saw last year, we expect this holiday season to be all about smaller tablets as even the long-term holiday favorite – the smartphone – loses its appeal,” explained Gartner Research Vice President, Carolina Milanesi.

Nevertheless, this won’t affect the overall smartphone market, which is expected to maintain its continuous growth.