Microsoft and its hardware partners have been pushing both tablet and 2-in-1 PCs hard, on consumers since the release of Windows 8, in an attempt to compete directly with the large install bases of both Android and iOS. Windows hasn't quite caught on as well as its competitors, but a new report has shown that Microsoft's Windows OS is building up momentum, much faster than some might realize.
A report released from Strategy Analytics, has shown that Windows-based tablets are expected to close out 2015 with a 10% install base. The report, which was co-authored by analysts Peter King and Eric Smith, also shows Android finishing with 68%, and iOS accounting for 28% by the end of this year. The report shows that the sale of Windows tablets are already up 58% compared to 2014, with the biggest shopping days of the years still to come.
As the chart above indicates, Strategy Analytics projects the growth of Windows-based tablets to jump to 18% by end-of-year 2019 - nearly double the current tablet marketshare for Windows. The success of Windows tablets can be mostly attributed to the success of the Surface line, which crowned the new Surface Pro 4 as the tablet flagship for Microsoft. On top of that, 2-in-1 devices from partners like ASUS, Acer and Lenovo offer great utility at low price points, making it cheaper for consumers to give Windows on tablets a try. The anticipated growth of Windows on tablets will hinge heavily on the success of Windows 10, an OS that Eric Smith calls "a stable base from which the ecosystem can grow".
Both analysts point toward Windows adoption to see its largest increases come from new enterprise customers and mass produced sub-$200 tablets.
Source: Strategy Analytics
25 Comments - Add comment