Tablet shipments to reach 248 million in 2015

After 67 million units were shipped in 2011, the tablet computer market is expected to skyrocket, with global sales reaching 248.6 million units by the end of 2015, according to analysis firm Transparency Market Research.

The Asia-Pacific region will emerge as a major player in the market during this time, accounting for 36.1 percent of global tablet shipments and 35.3 percent of end user sales in 2015, the research firm reports.

Similar growth will be seen in the smartphone market, with the Asia-Pacific region once again leading the way. With a head start on the tablet market, smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1 billion by 2015, growing 36.3 percent annually between 2011 and 2015.

Transparency Market Research highlights several trends that will become apparent with the growth of tablet computers. Consumers will gravitate toward devices with larger screens, ranging from 8 to 10 inches, and will favor lighter tablets that weigh between 1 and 2 pounds. Hybrid devices will also become more prevalent, as users look for computers that offer the portability of a tablet and the functionality of a laptop.

Lenovo® vice president Peter Hortensius has echoed the notion that tablet-laptop hybrids could become more popular going forward, noting in an interview with Laptop magazine that the device lends itself to people who need their computers for a wide range of tasks.