Global tablet shipments total 18.2m units with 185% Y-o-Y growth (or -33% Q-o-Q decline) according to ABI Research, with Apple firmly on top of the market.
The analyst says iPad shipments make 65% of WW units, thanks to the 3rd generation lineup launch and iPad 2 price reductions.
Meanwhile the Kindle Fire "fizzles" in 2012, as Samsung beats Amazon to the #2 spot with shipments reaching 1.1m units.
“A pattern similar to smartphones is also occurring in tablets,” ABI says-- that is, the tablet market is turning into another Apple-Samsung duopoly, whereas shipments from other vendors continue falling.
Only RIM (233%) and Lenovo (107%) show Q-o-Q growth in Q1 2012, while Asus shipments remain flat.
The market should hopefully become more interesting later this year-- Dell, HP and LG are retooling tablet portfolios for H2 2012 Android 4.0 and Windows 8 device launches.
Go iPad Remains Dominant in Q1 2012 While Kindle Fire Fizzles (ABI Research)