Tablets overtake laptops in MEA

Android operating system was major contributor to the growth

The size of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) tablet market exceeded the region's portable PC market for the first time in the second quarter of 2013, according to the latest results from International Data Corporation (IDC).

The premier global market intelligence and advisory firm for the information technology and telecommunications markets on Wednesday announced that tablet shipments for the quarter were up an incredible 208 per cent year on year, reaching a total of 2.79 million units.

The Android operating system was the major contributor to this massive growth, with 2 million such devices shipped during Q2 2013. The uptake of Windows OS was rather slow during the quarter, primarily as a result of vendors shipping more Android-based tablets in order to gain market share in the region.

"The launch of the iPad mini could not prevent iOS from rapidly losing share to Android devices, with cost being a key factor in consumers' choice of tablets," says Victoria Mendes, a research analyst for personal computing, systems, and infrastructure solutions at IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. "However, Apple’s new product launch, which is expected before the end of this year will defnitely spur some growth for the vendor in the region."

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