Tablets are expected to fly off the shelves this holiday season, prompting one research firm to increase its tablet sales forecast for 2012.

IDC said this week it is upping its forecast for annual tablet sales to 122.3 million units, a jump from its original projection of 117.1 million units. The firm attributed the increase to a surge in sales of Android-based tablets, along with strong demand for Apple's new iPad mini.

"Tablets continue to captivate consumers, and as the market shifts toward smaller, more mobile screen sizes and lower prices points, we expect demand to accelerate in the fourth quarter and beyond," said Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets at IDC, in a statement. "Android tablets are gaining traction in the market thanks to solid products from Google, Amazon, Samsung and others. And Apple's November iPad mini launch, along with its surprise refresh of the full-sized iPad, positions the company well for a strong holiday season."

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Apple's iPad is expected to dominate the market this year with a 53.8 percent share of the worldwide tablet market, IDC said. This number, however, is slightly lower than the 56.3 percent share the iPad captured in 2011, as Android-based tablets continue to rise in popularity.

Tablets running Android are expected to account for 42.7 percent of the worldwide tablet market this year, up from the 39.8 percent share they nabbed in 2011.

"The breadth and depth of Android has taken full effect on the tablet market as it has for the smartphone space," said Ryan Reith, program manager for IDC's Mobile Device Trackers, in a statement. "Android tablet shipments will certainly act as the catalyst for growth in the low-cost segment in emerging markets given the platform's low barrier to entry on manufacturing."

Meanwhile, Windows-based tablets are projected by IDC to capture 2.9 percent market share in 2012, up from the 1 percent they held last year. By 2016, as Windows RT and Windows 8 continue to break into the market, IDC expects this number to reach 10.3 percent.

IDC also increased its 2013 tablet sales forecast from 165.9 million units to 172.4 million units. By 2016, the firm said, worldwide tablet shipments are projected to reach 282.7 million units, which is up from IDC's previous forecast of 261.4 million units.

PUBLISHED DEC. 7, 2012