IDC: Microsoft Windows To Dominate Detachable Market By 2020

IDC yesterday published its Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker forecast. IDC reported that Worldwide tablet shipments will drop to 195 million units in 2016, down -5.9% from 2015. IDC predicts that tablet market will return to positive growth driven by growing demand for detachable devices like Microsoft Surface. IDC expects 2-in-1 device to grow from 16.6 million shipments in 2015 to 63.8 million in 2020. They also said that Microsoft-based devices will begin taking share from the other platforms, most notably from Google’s Android.

“This momentous shift in form factor will bring along the first significant impact of Windows-based devices that the tablet market has seen,” said Ryan Reith , Program Director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers . “Windows 10 seems to be making headway in both the PC and tablet markets, mainly driven by devices with larger screen sizes. Despite the free licensing on products under 9 inches the growth for Windows-based tablets will be primarily on devices with displays between 9 and 13 inches. Until we see a day where touch is introduced for Mac OS X and inroads are paved to bring Android and Chrome more closely aligned, we believe Windows remains the logical choice for detachable products.”