We‘ve witnessed a major transformation in the technology landscape over the past decade. Where once desktop PCs dominated our digital lives, today mobile devices like smartphones and tablets command the lion‘s share of the market. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll examine the latest market share worldwide for desktops, mobiles and tablets as of November 2024 and analyze the key trends shaping their evolving usage.
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The Rise of Mobile & Decline of Desktops
The market share shifts from desktops to mobiles reflect monumental changes in technology and consumer behavior over the past 10-15 years. Starting in 2007 when Apple launched the iPhone, improved mobile broadband connectivity and increasingly powerful smartphones began disrupting the era of desktop computer dominance.
As mobile operating systems like iOS and Android advanced and entire ecosystems of mobile apps flourished, consumers found smartphones and tablets could fulfill more and more of their digital needs on the go. The ability to perform tasks like email, web browsing, social media, shopping, gaming and streaming entertainment from anywhere made mobiles a hugely appealing platform.
The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2022 further accelerated mobile device adoption, as lockdowns and remote work led people to spend more time on their smartphones and tablets rather than desktop PCs confined to homes. Even as pandemic restrictions have eased, these mobile-centric habits have largely persisted.
Let‘s examine the monthly market share trends since October 2021 to quantify the ongoing shift from desktops to mobiles worldwide.
Based on usage statistics from StatCounter GlobalStats, below are the monthly market share trends for desktops, mobiles and tablets worldwide over the 13 months from October 2021 to October 2022:
Desktop Market Share
| Month | Market Share |
|---|---|
| October 2021 | 43.15% |
| November 2021 | 43.55% |
| December 2021 | 42.65% |
| January 2022 | 42.64% |
| February 2022 | 41.59% |
| March 2022 | 41.15% |
| April 2022 | 39.37% |
| May 2022 | 38.65% |
| June 2022 | 37.99% |
| July 2022 | 37.00% |
| August 2022 | 38.53% |
| September 2022 | 39.27% |
| October 2022 | 39.72% |
Mobile Market Share
| Month | Market Share |
|---|---|
| October 2021 | 54.37% |
| November 2021 | 53.98% |
| December 2021 | 54.86% |
| January 2022 | 54.98% |
| February 2022 | 55.98% |
| March 2022 | 56.45% |
| April 2022 | 58.16% |
| May 2022 | 59.02% |
| June 2022 | 59.74% |
| July 2022 | 60.73% |
| August 2022 | 59.25% |
| September 2022 | 58.64% |
| October 2022 | 58.27% |
Tablet Market Share
| Month | Market Share |
|---|---|
| October 2021 | 2.48% |
| November 2021 | 2.48% |
| December 2021 | 2.49% |
| January 2022 | 2.47% |
| February 2022 | 2.43% |
| March 2022 | 2.40% |
| April 2022 | 2.47% |
| May 2022 | 2.33% |
| June 2022 | 2.27% |
| July 2022 | 2.27% |
| August 2022 | 2.22% |
| September 2022 | 2.09% |
| October 2022 | 2.02% |
The data confirms desktop share has steadily declined over the period from 43.15% to 39.72%, hitting a low of 37% in July 2022 before slightly rebounding. On the flip side, mobile‘s share has risen from 54.37% to peak at 60.73% in July 2022, reflecting its increasing dominance worldwide. Tablets have remained relatively flat, fluctuating between 2-2.5%.
Drilling down across global regions reveals some interesting localized differences. For instance, in North America desktops retain a 45% share on average versus just 35% in Asia, where mobile adoption has been explosive. Japan in particular has seen desktop share crash from 40% to 26% in two years, as older generations there rapidly embrace smartphones. In Africa, mobile accounts for a huge 90% market share driven by lack of wired infrastructure.
When analyzing the market breakdown across desktop operating systems worldwide, Windows continues its undisputed leadership:
Desktop OS Market Share Worldwide (October 2022)
- Windows – 75.96%
- macOS – 15.70%
- Linux – 3.34%
- Chrome OS – 2.38%
However, Windows‘ share has slowly declined over the past decade, from over 90% in 2012 down to around 76% today, per StatCounter. This reflects the growth of macOS, Chrome OS and mobile OSes chipping away at Windows‘ dominance in the computing world.
On the regional front, Windows holds over 90% desktop OS share in Asia and Africa. But in developed markets like North America and Europe, macOS has a stronger foothold of around 22% share.
Going forward, the rise of cloud computing and growth of browser-based Chrome OS devices could further erode Windows market share on consumer desktops and laptops. However, Windows remains entrenched as the enterprise desktop OS of choice and will be difficult to displace in businesses.
When it comes to smartphone operating system market share worldwide, Android and iOS are the two heavyweights, combining for over 99%:
| Quarter | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2019 | 76.34% | 22.05% |
| Q4 2019 | 75.53% | 22.99% |
| Q1 2020 | 74.16% | 24.80% |
| Q2 2020 | 85.20% | 14.60% |
| Q3 2020 | 86.48% | 12.97% |
| Q4 2020 | 71.93% | 27.19% |
| Q1 2021 | 71.30% | 27.05% |
| Q2 2021 | 69.08% | 29.88% |
| Q3 2021 | 70.05% | 29.15% |
| Q4 2021 | 69.74% | 29.25% |
| Q1 2022 | 71.13% | 27.54% |
| Q2 2022 | 69.42% | 30.15% |
Android commands majority market share of around 70%, but Apple‘s iOS has steadily eaten away at its lead, rising from just 22% in Q3 2019 to 30% in Q2 2022. This reflects the continued premium appeal of iPhones in Western markets like the US where iOS holds over 50% share.
Meanwhile, phone screen sizes continue to evolve. Phablets with displays 5.5" to 6.5" have become the most popular form factor with around 50% market share globally in 2022. Even larger screen foldable phones are pushing the boundaries further and expected to grow to 27 million shipments in 2024, per IDC. Tablet-sized screens in pocketable devices could further blur the lines between mobiles and tablets.
Leading Tablet Vendors
When it comes to tablet vendors, Apple continues to dominate with its market-leading iPad range:
Tablet Market Share Worldwide
| Vendor | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Apple | 50.68% |
| Samsung | 29.18% |
| Amazon | 5.41% |
| Lenovo | 3.83% |
| Huawei | 3.42% |
Apple‘s share has grown slightly from 49.85% in October 2021 to 50.68% in October 2022. Samsung places second with around 29% share. Amazon, Lenovo and Huawei round out the top five players.
Looking at specific tablet models, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch and 11-inch are the global market leaders, accounting for 16.2% of all tablets sold in Q3 2022 according to StatCounter. Samsung‘s Galaxy Tab S7+ and S7 take third and fourth spots, highlighting the Android vendor‘s strength in the higher-end tablet segment.
Looking ahead, what could market share across device categories look like in 2025 and beyond? Here are some forward-looking predictions:
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Desktops: The downward trend will continue, but level out around 30-35% share as they remain vital for productivity-focused and professional users.
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Mobiles: Share will peak at 65-70% globally by 2025 as adoption saturates. Developing regions still have room to grow.
-
Tablets: Share will remain stable in the low single digits. Tablets won‘t disappear but mobiles will constrain their growth.
-
Operating Systems: iOS and Android will continue dominating mobiles with 90%+ share. Windows is secure on desktops near-term but could decline further long-term.
Of course, technology moves blazingly fast, so we could see unexpected new shifts. Device categories themselves may blur as foldables, voice assistants and augmented reality evolve. But for now, mobiles undoubtedly rule the computing world while desktops and tablets play supporting roles in this new technology era.
Conclusion
In summary, the mobile revolution over the past decade has utterly transformed the digital landscape. Smartphones now clearly dominate with around 60% market share worldwide as of late 2022, reaching an all-time high over the past year.
Desktop PCs have steadily declined but still maintain a substantial 40% share for productivity and professional use cases. And tablets occupy just a small niche of around 2-3% share worldwide.
Within these device categories, Microsoft Windows continues its reign in the desktop world for now, while Apple iOS and Google Android power the mobile ecosystem. And for tablets, Apple iPad remains the unrivaled leader.
As we look ahead over the next five years, expect mobiles to consolidate their rule at likely 65-70% market share, while desktops and tablets hold steady in supporting roles. But surprises could always be in store in this dynamic, ultra-competitive arena of consumer technology.
