OYSTER BAY, NY -- Tablets are set to overtake notebook PCs as the largest mobile computing category, concludes new data from market researchers ABI Research.

 Sales of tablets, agreed by many to be in competition with notebooks, will total 52% of the mobile computing market by the end of 2015. ABI Research forecasts flat growth for notebook PCs due to longer replacement cycles and device market competition, causing the segment to drop from 51% market share in 2013 to 48% in 2015, and to 47% by year-end 2016.

The mobile computing category includes tablets, MS Windows laptops, Chromebooks, and ultraportable PCs.

Although tablets are competing for share of wallet with notebook PCs, tablets serve a consumer niche that emphasizes portability and connectivity. “Notebooks offer a combination of portability and productivity that has yet to be achieved by any other portable mobile computing device,” says research analyst Stephanie Van Vactor.

“Although laptops appear to be losing traction they’re not going out of style and flat growth can be representative of several market conditions, including a longer lifecycle.”

The category of notebook PCs, which includes laptops, Chromebooks, and ultrabooks, is still experiencing growth in different regions. ABI Research forecasts Chromebooks and ultrabooks to attain a CAGR of 16% from 2015 to 2020.