Tablets will exceed PCs in this year

Global sales of tablet computers are expected to exceed those of desktop computers this year.

It is even faster than expected. Global sales of tablet computers are expected to exceed those of desktop computers this year and those of laptops in 2014, according to a study published Tuesday in the United States by the research firm IDC.


IDC estimates that 190.9 million tablets will be passed this year, an increase of 48.8% compared to 2012. And they surpass sales of desktop computers that should fall to 142.1 million (-4.3%) but remain a notch below those of laptops (0.9% to 203.8 million). In 2014, sales of tablets should still grow by 23.8% to 236.3 million units. Although the rate of increase slows, it suffices to supplant also sales of laptops that are expected to grow by 3.4% to 210.8 million units. These desktops are expected to stagnate in parallel 142.4 million.

Smartphone King

Despite the growing popularity of tablets smartphone remains the king of internet-connected devices, with sales estimated by research firm to 918.6 million units this year and 1.08 billion next year. These trends are reinforced by the weight of growing emerging markets, which become the main source of growth for developed markets begin to saturate.

"In emerging markets, consumer spending typically start with mobile phones and, in many cases,
move to tablets before going to the PC, "notes Megha Saini