Tablet Shipments to Overtake Notebook Shipments by 2016

According to the latest report by the market research firm NPD DisplaySearch, tablet PC shipments will surpass notebook computer shipments in 2016. It is estimated that the mobile PC shipments will increase from 347 million units in 2012 to over 809 million units by 2017.

NPD DisplaySearch noted in its ‘Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report‘ that notebook PC shipments will grow from 208 million units this year to 393 million units by 2017. Meanwhile, tablet shipments will jump from 121 million units in 2012 to 416 million units by 2017, “for a compound annual growth rate of 28%”.

The firm believes that the increased adoption of tablets in mature markets like North America, Japan and Western Europe is one of the main reasons for the incredible tablet sales. It also says that these mature markets alone will account for 66% of all tablet shipments in 2012 and will most probably stay steady with a market share of about 60% over the next five years.

Tablet shipments into mature markets are expected to increase from 80 million units this year to 254 million units by 2017.

Richard Shim, senior analyst at NPD DisplaySearch said, “Consumer preference for mobile computing devices is shifting from notebook to tablet PCs, particularly in mature markets. While the lines between tablet and notebook PCs are blurring, we expect mature markets to be the primary regions for tablet PC adoption.”