Samsung tablet market share in second quarter of 2013 increased to 21.6 percent from 7.8 percent in same quarter last year, while Apple fell to 42.7 percent from 71.2 percent.

Amazon’s tablet market share increased to 4.5 percent from 1.8 percent.

Lenovo’s share in the table market increased to 4.3 percent from 1.5 percent.

Acer’s tablet share rose to 4.3 percent from 1.9 percent.

Market research agency Canalys says more than 34 million tablets shipped in Q2 2013, up 43 percent year-on-year.

Tablets now account for 31 percent of worldwide PC shipments.

Apple’s tablet shipments declined 14 percent on Q2 2012.

Samsung, Amazon, Lenovo and Acer each grew annually by over 200 percent, driven by increasing demand for small-screen tablets.

Canalys says that 68 percent of tablets shipped in Q2 had a screen size smaller than 9-inch.

Apple’s decline in shipments and share has been partly attributed to its aging portfolio.

The move to smaller tablets has sparked a price war that has real consequences for the entire supply chain. These products generate little absolute margin for channel partners, vendors or component manufacturers. Content, applications and accessories (especially cases and keyboards) are now even more important to boost margins – areas where Apple remains a leader.

In addition to disappearing margins, inventory management is emerging as a major challenge.

The market for full-sized tablets has stalled and even Apple has found it harder to sell its larger iPads in recent quarters.

While Apple is losing its stranglehold on the tablet market in terms of volume, it will remain its most profitable vendor for years to come.

[email protected]