Apple is the leader in the tablet market and soon it may become the top manufacturer of mobile processors. According to a study by In-Stat, Apple was close to Intel in 2011 and its continued success in 2012 could help it overtake the chip company later this year.
In 2011, Intel was the number one mobile processor manufacturer with shipments that totaled 181 million and a 13.9 percent market share. Most of these mobile processors landed in notebooks and netbooks. Apple, however, was a close second with 13.5 percent market share. It shipped 176 million mobile processors in iOS devices like the iPad and the iPhone.
Thus far in 2012, consumer demand for Apple’s smartphones and tablets continues to explode. Apple sold more than four million iPhone 4S handsets during its launch last October and just last weekend, Apple sold three million iPads in less than four days. With no end in sight, it’s likely Apple could surpass Intel to take the number one spot later this year.
[Via In-Stat]