The Apple iPad will remain to lead the tablet market for the whole 2012 as foretold by research group IDC, following the device’s grasp to regain market share from its Android rivals.

IDC recently announced updates on its prediction that greater percentage of future tablet sales are moving toward iOS, which leaves lesser share for Google’s Android operating system. Expectations for the iPad will follow an increase of 62.5 percent market share this year from 58.2 percent in 2011. Consequently, Android will slide down from 38.7 percent to 36.5 percent and the worst goes to BlackBerry PlayBook, as its fumbling share will decrease another one percent.

Apple iPad (Image: matt buchanan, via Flickr / CC)

IDC Mobile Connected Devices research director Tom Mainelli commented,

After a very strong launch of new products in March, Apple’s iPad shows few signs of slowing down.

The addition of the Retina Display and 4G capabilities to the third-generation products clearly enticed many current owners to upgrade. And Apple’s decision to keep two iPad 2s in the market at lower prices-moving the entry-level price down to $399-seems to be paying off as well.

If Apple launches a sub-$300, 7-inch product into the market later this year as rumored, we expect the company’s grip on this market to become even stronger.

Demand for media tablets remains robust, and we see an increasing interest in the category from the commercial side.

We expect pending new products from major players, increasingly affordable mainstream devices, and a huge marketing blitz from Microsoft around Windows 8 to drive increased consumer interest in the category through the end of the year.

Generally, IDC anticipates worldwide tablet sales to reach 107.4 million units from the company’s previous estimate of 106.1 million, 142.8 million in the year 2013 and to exceed 222 million in 2016, beating original expectations.

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

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