Global 2013 tablet shipments are to reach (slightly) lower than expected according to IDC-- 221.3 million units, down from earlier forecasts of 227.4m if with 53.5% growth over 2012.
The analyst says tablet growth is to shrink to single-digit percentages by 2017 with shipments peaking at 386.3m units, down from previous predictions of 407m units.
If you wonder how come, here is the answer-- small vs. large tablets, with large smartphones thrown in for good measures. Over the past 24 months the market saw preference for small tablets, but the rise of oversized smartphones might see consumers swing back to larger tablets. After all, what's the difference between a 6-inch smartphone and a 7-inch tablet?