The iPad might currently be on top when it comes to tablets, but things may be shifting quickly, according to a new ABI Research report. Back in 2011 Gartner had suggested that Android would hold a 38% share of the tablet market by 2015, but ABI says that things are now moving much quicker. The latest data suggests that Android accounted for an impressive 44 percent of all tablets shipped during the last quarter.

Sure, this might only speak for one quarter, but with continued competing products coming from B&N, Amazon and Google, change is clearly on the horizon. The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire might be the leaders in this change, but they aren’t the only players that are shifting the game, and the new Samsung Nexus 10 will likely also play a key role.

So when do analysts think that Android might overtake Apple in the tablet market, if trends continue in Google’s favor? Perhaps as early as mid-2013, believe it or not.

What stands in Google’s way? Not only do they have strong competition from Apple, Microsoft is also in the game now with Windows 8. Android might have cost on its side, but it also is known for not having as many tablet-optimized apps as iOS. In the 7-inch market, Android also now has competition from the Apple iPad Mini. Still, it is hard to deny that Android is gaining major traction in the tablet market.

It does seem inevitable that iOS will eventually be dethroned by Android in the tablet world, but do you think it will happen as soon as mid-2013 or will it take longer?

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