IDC is predicting global tablet shipments to hit 229.3 million units in 2013, representing a 58.7 percent increase over 2012 and leaving predicted laptop shipments for 2013 in the dust.
As the PC industry continues to suffer, IDC predicts that global tablet shipments will exceed the entire PC market by 2015.
IDC notes that Apple has lead the charge on tablet market penetration but that low-cost tablets are gaining rapidly, predicting the global average selling price for tablets will decrease 10.8 percent to $381 in 2013.
IDC sees smaller tablets ruling the market long-term, with devices sporting displays smaller than 8 inches capturing 55 percent of the global market in 2013, up from 27 percent just two years ago. Moving in the other direction, tablets with displays ranging 8-11 inches will hold 43 percent of the worldwide market in 2013, down from 73 percent two years ago.