iPad Mini Surges, PC Slows, Smarpthones/iPhones Wait for New & Cheaper

The latest stats from Gartner show a decline in PC shipments but overall increase in tablets, smartphones and ultramobiles.

The big movers will be tablets with shipments  expected to grow 67.9 percent, with shipments reaching 202 million units in 2103.

Because tablets and smartphone have longer life cycles, it is challenging the market. Consumers are waiting for new models in the fall and cheaper prices in the fall and over the holidays.  (See our in depth on article on you should buy an Android or iPhone now or later.)

Basic tablets are growing faster than expected. Sales of the iPad Mini already represented 60 percent of overall iOS tablet sales in the first quarter of 2013.

The Mobile phone market will grow 4.3 percent, with volume of more than 1.8 billion units. While Worldwide traditional PC (desk-based and notebook) shipments are forecast to total 305 million units in 2013, a 10.6 percent decline from 2012.

Table 1

Worldwide Devices Shipments by Segment (Thousands of Units)

Source: Gartner (June 2013)