Gartner expects more Apple devices to sell this year

Jan 9, 2017 12:33 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft’s Windows has long been the leading operating system for new devices sold across the world, but according to a forecast from analyst firm Gartner, that’s expected to change this year when Apple is likely to take over the leader crown.

A three-year forecast shows that the number of macOS and iOS devices sold this year is likely to overtake the amount of devices powered by Windows, with the research firm expecting Apple to recover substantially in the next 12 months.

As you can see in the graph attached to the article, sales of Windows devices have been declining since 2012, although a small growth was posted in 2014, but at the same time, continued increase of Apple’s iOS and OS X devices brought the two rivals closer to each other.

The switch of places is likely to happen in 2017, with Apple’s platforms to sell more new devices than Windows. The difference between the two will increase until 2019, when iOS and macOS are expected to run on nearly 300,000 new devices, while Windows would power a little bit over 250,000.

iPhone to the rescue

While Gartner does not explain why Apple is expected to post such a substantial increase, one of the main reasons is likely to be the arrival of new iPhones - the stats include not only PCs but also tablets and smartphones, and Apple obviously scores big here thanks to its iPhone.

The iPhone is projected to receive a major overhaul later this year, with sources claiming that new form factors, as well as a brand-new model coming with OLED display with other exclusive features, could hit the shelves. This should help Apple achieve bigger sales in the short term, and at the same time, become the leader of yearly device shipments.

Microsoft, on the other hand, continues to bet big on its Windows ecosystem, with partners bringing new models to the market on a regular basis. This year’s CES was living proof, although it remains to be seen how well the new devices will sell after they become available.

In the meantime, if Gartner is right with this forecast, Microsoft and Apple are likely to go head-to-head in this business, and there’s no doubt that neither will give up. For both of them, however, remaining at the top of the chart is critical in the long term.