iOS vs. Android Tablet Market Share in 2013 vs. 2017: Microsoft (MSFT) Windows OS at 10 Percent by 2017; Tablet Shipments to Slow Down, Says IDC

Tablet shipments are expected to slow down by 2017 as a battle between big and small tablets is underway.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide tablet shipments are expected to hit 221.3 million units in 2013, but the figure is down from the previous projection of 227.4 million units. Despite the change in forecast, it is 53.5 percent above 2012's figures.

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Shipment growth is expected to slow to 22.2 percent year over year during 2014 to 270.5 million units. For 2017, tablet growth will hit single-digit figures and peak at 386.3 million units, which is down from the initial forecast of 407 million units.

Consumers appear to favor small tablets over larger devices. The IDC noted a trend has surfaced with small tablets over the last two years, however, the popularity of larger smartphones may influence the buyer to purchase large tablets.

"In some markets consumers are already making the choice to buy a large smartphone rather than buying a small tablet, and as a result we've lowered our long-term forecast," said IDC's Research Director for Tablets Tom Mainelli. "Meanwhile, in mature markets like the U.S. where tablets have been shipping in large volumes since 2010 and are already well established, we're less concerned about big phones cannibalizing shipments and more worried about market saturation."

When it comes to the tablet operating system, Google's Android platform is expected to reign during the next five years.

The IDC has projected Android to account for 60.8 percent of the tablet operating system market share by the conclusion of 2013. For 2017, the IDC forecast Android to encounter a minor slip of 2 percentage points and hit 2017 with 58.8 percent of the market share.

Apple's iOS platform is expected to maintain second place levels but encounter a drop in the market share figures. Apple represented 45.6 percent of the tablet operating system market share in 2012, but it is projected to hit 35 percent for 2013. The Apple tablet platform is expected to slip further to 30.6 percent by 2017.

Microsoft's Windows, however, is expected to see a significant increase. In 2012, Windows represented 0.9 percent of the market share, while 2013 may see the Microsoft tablet platform hit 3.4 percent. By 2017, Windows is projected to hit double-digit territory with 10.2 percent of the market share.

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