Tablet sales soar after BlackBerry CEO predicts device's death

Tablet shipments soared in the first quarter of 2013, growing by 142.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2012, according to analysts IDC.

The figures revealed more tablets were shipped from January to March 2013 than in the entire first half of 2012.

Apple remains the biggest brand in the market with a 39.6 per cent. However, Samsung are following behind with 8.8 million tablets shipped and a 17.9 per cent market share.

Tom Mainelli, research director at IDC, said: 'Sustained demand for the iPad Mini and increasingly strong commercial shipments led to a better-than expected first quarter for Apple.

'In addition, by moving the iPad launch to the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple seems to have avoided the typical first-quarter slowdown that traditionally occurred when consumers held off buying in January and February in anticipation of a new product launch in March.'