IDC: Apple will dominate tablet market until 2016 (they lost the smartphone war a long time ago)

While it may be true that the iPhone 5 was a major disappointment (or in our eyes, an expected flop), it might be a little too soon to count Apple out, as far as the tablet market is concerned. According to the International Data Corp. (IDC), Apple will “will continue to dominate the market of tablets till at least 2016″. The firm also predicts that tablet versions of Microsoft Windows will see quicker growth than expected.

As for 2012, IDC expects all companies to supply 117.1 million tablets — about 10 million units higher than its previous forecast of 107.4 million units for the year. Next year, the predicted total is 165.9 million units, and by 2016 the IDC foresees a total of 261.4 million units.

So, where does Android land in all of this?

If you invest any faith into the IDC’s numbers, Android will account for 41.34 million units in 2012, 54.25 million in 2013, and 79.73 million in 2016. This is a far cry from the projected numbers for Apple tablets, which are 70.14 million in 2012, 100.7 million in 2013, and 151.87.

I’ll be the first to admit, it’s going to be tough for Android to ever catch up to Apple and the iPad, but it’d take a fool to believe that the iPhone ever has a chance at winning the smartphone war.

As Boston.com reports, Here are IDC’s figures for worldwide smartphone unit sales and market share in the second quarter of 2012, by operating system.

• Android (Google Inc.) — 104.8 million units, 68.1 percent share (46.9 percent a year earlier)
• iOS (Apple Inc.’s iPhone) — 26.0 million units, 16.9 percent share (18.8 percent a year earlier)
• BlackBerry (Research in Motion Ltd.) — 7.4 million units, 4.8 percent share (11.5 percent a year earlier)
• Symbian (mostly used by Nokia Corp.) — 6.8 million units, 4.4 percent share (16.9 percent a year earlier)
• Windows (Microsoft Corp.) — 5.4 million units, 3.5 percent share (2.3 percent a year earlier)
• Linux — 3.5 million units, 2.3 percent share (3.0 percent a year earlier)
• Others — 0.1 million units, 0.1 percent share (0.5 percent a year earlier)

My, how the tables have turned, eh?

What are your thoughts about the IDC’s predictions? Do you think there’s ever a chance Android takes over as the top tablet operating system, or will we be forced to see iPads in every nook and cranny at every restaurant, from here until eternity?

Drop us a comment in the thread below.

Sources: Xbit Laboratories, Boston.com