While we might not have one singular device that comes close to the iPad, Android tablets are doing quite well as a whole.  So well, in fact, that they now account for 41.3 percent of the worldwide tablet market, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

Rising from 29.3 percent market share one year ago, the overall number of shipments have doubled.  Whereas last year there were 5 million tablets shipped in Q3, there were 10.2 million shipped this year.  The most obvious contributing factors?  The Kindle Fire and Nexus 7.

“No single Android vendor comes close to Apple in volume terms at the moment, but the collective weight of dozens of hardware partners, such as Asus, Samsung and Nook, is helping Google’s Android platform to register a growing presence in tablets,” said Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston.

Things will get really interesting with the new iPad mini hitting the market in the coming weeks; Apple will certainly make its impact felt.  On the other hand, we’ve got a new Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD, and whatever Google is cooking up for October 29.

Strategy Analytics