Tablet shipments to outstrip PCs in 2015

Tablet shipments will outstrip PC shipments next year, despite experiencing a slowdown in 2014, according to new research by Gartner. 

The research firm predicts that in 2015 global tablet shipments will reach 321.0 million units, outstripping worldwide PC unit shipments at 316.7 million.

This is in spite of Gartner expecting tablet sales to slow down in 2014 to reach 256 million units – an increase of 23.9% from 2013.

This year PC shipments are tipped to reach 308.5 million units. This marks a market contraction of 2.9%, better than the 9.5% decline witnessed in 2014.

Gartner estimates that the shift towards ‘phablets’ in South-East Asia and lower demand for tablets with smaller screens are slowing global tablet penetration.

“The next wave of adoption will be driven by lower price points rather than superior functionality,” said Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal.