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Android is conquering the world

Published Jan 7th, 2014 11:40AM EST
Android Device Sales 2014

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Android has been the most popular mobile operating system for a while, but now it seems poised to become the dominant overall computing platform in the entire world. The latest numbers from Gartner project that a whopping 1.1 billion Android devices will ship this year, which means that Android devices are projected to account for 44.5% of all computing devices shipped in 2014. Gartner also sees Android’s grip on the computing world tightening in 2015, when the firm projects Android devices will account for 47.8% of all computing devices shipped. Gartner’s press release follows below.

Gartner Says Worldwide Traditional PC, Tablet, Ultramobile and Mobile Phone Shipments On Pace to Grow 7.6 Percent in 2014

Android to Surpass One Billion Users Across all Devices in 2014

Worldwide combined shipments of devices (PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones) are projected to reach 2.5 billion units in 2014, a 7.6 percent increase from 2013, according to Gartner, Inc. Among the operating system (OS) market, Android is on pace to surpass one billion users across all devices in 2014. By 2017, over 75 percent of Android’s volumes will come from emerging markets.

“The device market continues to evolve, with buyers deciding which combination of devices is required to meet their wants and needs. Mobile phones are a must have and will continue to grow but at a slower pace, with opportunities moving away from the top-end premium devices to mid-end basic products,” said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner. “Meanwhile users continue to move away from the traditional PC (notebooks and desk-based) as it becomes more of a shared content creation tool, while the greater flexibility of tablets, hybrids and lighter notebooks address users’ increasingly different demands.”

Mobile phones are expected to dominate overall device shipments, with 1.9 billion mobile phones shipped in 2014, a five percent increase from 2013 (see Table 1). Ultramobiles, which include tablets, hybrids and clamshells, will take over as the main driver of growth in the devices market from 2014, with a growth rate of 54 percent.

“Complimentary smaller tablets will take over from the larger tablet form factors, providing the added mobility that consumers desire at a lower cost and will compete with hybrids for consumer attention,” said Mr. Atwal.

Table 1

Worldwide Device Shipments by Segment (Thousands of Units)

Device Type

2012

2013

2014

2015

PC (Desk-Based and Notebook)

341,273

299,342

277,939

268,491

Tablet (Ultramobile)

119,529

179,531

263,450

324,565

Mobile Phone

1,746,177

1,804,334

1,893,425

1,964,788

Other Ultramobiles (Hybrid and Clamshell)

9,344

17,195

39,636

63,835

Total

2,216,322

2,300,402

2,474,451

2,621,678

Source: Gartner (December 2013)

In 2014, the worldwide tablet market is forecast to grow 47 percent with lower average selling prices attracting new users. Consumers continue to buy tablets as an additional device that they carry everywhere. According to a recent consumer study that Gartner conducted in the third quarter of 2013 across Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., the U.S. and Japan, over two-thirds of tablets were used outside the home for activities such as vacation or concert. This is a similar pattern to that of smartphones as smaller form factors are driving more portability outside the home.

Worldwide shipments of traditional PCs are forecast to total 278 million units in 2014, a seven percent decline from 2013. Driven by an uptake in Windows ultramobiles, the PC market is estimated to remain flat in 2014 (0.2 percent), after a decline of 9.9 percent in 2013. The Gartner consumer survey showed that less than eight per cent of users would replace their laptop with a tablet, while a transfer to an Ultrabook is almost twice this figure.

In the OS market, Android continues to be the OS of choice across all devices (see Table 2). Gartner estimates that Android will reach 1.1 billion users in 2014, a 26 percent increase from 2013. “There is no doubt that there is a volume versus value equation, with Android users also purchasing lower-cost devices compared to Apple users. Android holds the largest number of installed-base devices, with 1.9 billion in use in 2014, compared with 682 million iOS/Mac OS installed-base devices,” said Annette Zimmerman, principal analyst at Gartner.

Table 2

Worldwide Device Shipments by Operating System (Thousands of Units)

Operating System

2012

2013

2014

2015

Android

503,690

877,885

1,102,572

1,254,367

Windows

346,272

327,956

359,855

422,726

iOS/Mac OS

213,690

266,769

344,206

397,234

RIM

34,581

24,019

15,416

10,597

Chrome

185

1,841

4,793

8,000

Others

1,117,905

801,932

647,572

528,755

Total

2,216,322

2,300,402

2,474,414

2,621,678

Source: Gartner (December 2013)

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.