The gap between the iPad and Android in the tablet market is closing faster than expected

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    Apple continues to lead the tablet market, according to ABI Research, but iPad’s share has fallen by 14% in the quarter to 55. At this rate, Android tablets could overtake the iPad next year — a year ago no one would have believed it. writes TechCrunch.

    After the release of the iPad in 2010, forecasts immediately appeared that Android would overtake Apple in the tablet market, just as happened with smartphones. However, these forecasts most often said that this would happen by 2015 or 2016. Last year, Gartner predicted even greater dominance of Apple, estimating that in 2015 the iPad will have 47% of the market, and Android-tablets - 38.

    Apple's share has not decreased so much yet, but Android already has all 44% - partly due to the complete failure of tablets on other platforms. Neither HP's WebOS nor RIM's PlayBook succeeded in competing with iOS with Android. This lack of competitive alternatives has helped Android increase its share much faster than everyone expected.

    The latest forecast from Finvista Advisors says that Android could get ahead in mid-2013. The narrowing gap is indicative of a significant improvement in the quality and variety of Android tablets, including successful low-cost devices from Amazon (which are said to sell well this holiday season in the US, although there aren't numbers yet) and Google Nexus 7 (according to Asus, its sales are approaching a million per month). Samsung also has high tablet sales, according to ABI.

    According to ABI, the iPad mini did little to increase Apple's overall sales, but it is probably too early to say what impact the new form factor will ultimately have on the company's market share. And even if Apple loses market leadership in 2013, it is unlikely that this will have a negative impact on financial performance; After all, the loss of primacy in the smartphone market did not prevent the continued growth in iPhone sales.

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