iOS still holds edge in worldwide tablet shipments, despite Kindle Fire launch

The tablet market heated up in the last quarter of 2011 when Amazon went head-to-head against Apple with its Kindle Fire. Many expected the Fire to make a dent in the sales of the Apple iPad and the latest IDC numbers suggest their expectations were correct. Though overall iPad shipments increased, the iPad's market share fell in the final quarter of 2011 due to the Kindle Fire.

IDC says Apple shipped 15.4 million units in Q4 2011, up from 11.1 million units in Q3 2011. This increase was offset by shipments of the Kindle Fire which climbed to 4.7 million units. In the end, Apple grabbed a 54.7 percent market share, down from 61.5 percent in Q3 2011. Amazon grabbed 16.8 percent and became the number one Android tablet maker. Behind the two market leaders are Samsung with a 5.5 percent market share and Barnes & Noble with 3.5 percent. Pandigital, which makes inexpensive Android tablets, rounds out the top five.

[Via The Verge]