It looks like the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Nexus 7 might have been even bigger than originally expected. New data suggests that Android tablets have actually surpassed Apple's iPad in terms of sales. At this rate, regardless of how good the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 are, there may be no turning back.
On April 25, we reported that Android, powered by the likes of the Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Nexus 7, made some major gains against Apple's iPad during the first quarter of 2013, but that Apple maintained a lead.
On Wednesday, however, the research firm IDC revealed its data and found that Android slates had overtaken Apple's iPad share for the first time.
According to IDC, Apple shipped 19.5 million iPad units during the first quarter of 2013. While that is more than double its nearest competitor Samsung, Android tablets combined for a total of 27.8 million shipments. That brings iOS' market share down to 39.6 percent, compared to 58.1 percent last year. Android, meanwhile, accounted for 56.5 percent of the market.
In a sense, this news is to be expected. The iPad is still the most popular tablet by far, and it's probable that the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 will continue that trend, but with more competition and more products coming from the Android line it's not a surprise to see that OS pull ahead.
Even last week's numbers from Strategy Analytics left open the possibility that Android had actually surpassed the iPad, if it were to include the sale of "white boxes," which are tablets that are sold under one brand but actually manufactured by a different company.
Apple still has room to grow despite the percentages, though. Cupertino actually shipped more iPads than IDC expected, so if the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 can boost demand (as they're expected to), then Apple would still find itself in a very healthy position.
Microsoft, meanwhile, sold about 900,000 Surface units, good for about 1.8 percent of the market, while Windows 8 tablets in general combined for about 1.8 million sales.
