Tablet shipments to hit 197 million

Worldwide tablet shipments are tipped to jump 70% this year, reaching 197 million, according to new stats from research firm Gartner.

The figure compares to 116 million tablet units shipped last year and is predicted to continue to rise – reaching 266 million in 2014 and 468 million in 2017 – as consumers buying habits continue to shift towards these newer and more affordable devices.