Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPad Shipment Update: What You Missed

Unlike the smartphone market, one company dominates the tablet space at this time: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and its iPad lineup. Despite the fact that the competition is heating up and other companies are looking to get into the action, nobody has been able to keep up with Cupertino in this department.

According to Digitimes Research, we can expect more of the same during the second quarter of 2013.

Before we get into the finer details of where Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stands, let’s take a closer look at what to expect in an overall sense:

“According to Digitimes Research, global tablet shipments from brands in the second quarter of 2013 will be around 34.02 million units, growing 6.6% on quarter and 70.1% on year.”

This alone shows just how big the tablet market is becoming. Not is a huge increase year over year, meaning that companies in this space have more opportunity than ever before for making a dent.

The report goes on to state that “non-iPad tablet shipments are expected to reach 17.52 million” which would result in on quarter growth of roughly 41 percent.

While it is hard to say what the quarter has to hold for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) the report states that the tablet is reaching its “low season” which will result in shipments of 16.5 million.

Here is some more on what the competition is up to:

“Samsung Electronics and Lenovo, both of whom rely mostly on in-house production for their tablets, have been seeing their shares of shipments rise. As a result, Taiwan makers’ share of global tablet shipments is expected to fall to 70%, accounting for about 23.77 million units, in the second quarter.”

It is only natural to think that Samsung may be the company to challenge Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) for the top spot in the tablet market. After all, Samsung has successfully done so in the smartphone space.

Digitimes Research believes that global tablet shipments by brand vendors will surpass 157 million units this year, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) leading the pack followed by Samsung, Amazon, and Google.

It is important to note their belief that Samsung will experience the largest shipment growth.

Apple is still top dog in the tablet market, but it will have to hold off some stiff competition if it wants to keep this spot for the long term.

How do you feel about the competition faced by the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad? Do you see any company that may be able to knock Cupertino down a peg? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.