Apple is in danger of losing its hold on the tablet market, a study by ABI Research said on Thursday. Although the study did not place a definite timetable when would the 50 per cent market share of the Cupertino-based tech firm in the first quarter of 2013 lose its crown, it attributes the threat to the growing acceptance of Android tablets in China.

ABI said the 7-inch Android tablets, which normally cost less than $200, are growing more in popularity in developed and emerging markets even if many Chinese are still passionate about the Apple brand.

"It's inevitable that Android tablets will overtake iOS-powered slates, though we see no single vendor challenging Apple's dominance anytime soon," ABI Senior Practice Director Jeff Orr said in a statement.

Another research by IDC forecast that for 2013, 55 per cent of tablet shipments would be those in the smaller screen segment and the average selling price would go down to 11 per cent to $381.

The threat of losing its tablet crown which Apple had held since 2010 led the tech giant founded by Steve Jobs to roll out a smaller screen tablet, the iPad Mini, in 2012.

But in a bid to get a larger slice of the tablet market, other PC makers are expected to roll out Windows 8 devices with smaller screens in the later part of 2013.

Because of the weakening hold of Apple on the tablet market as well as its lower share of the smartphone market, observers are comparing Apple's financial status with that of Microsoft whose stocks used to be very hot but is now stuck on moving sideways.

Since the December 1991 peak of Microsoft shares, the software firm's stocks are now 35 per cent lower. Similarly, Apple shares are now 36 per cent below its Sept 21 peak of $705.07.

"Like it or not, both were founded and run by a genius, both became the giants of their eras, titans of the stock market and both became the giants of their eras, titans of the stock market and both had their moment of glory," ADVFN Chief Executive Officers Clem Chambers wrote in an article for Forbes. ADVFN is an investment Web site.

"But both lost their key person, replaced by a great businessman but someone not capable of the huge achievements of the previous incumbent."

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