Ereader sales to triple by 2016 but won't be able to keep up with tablets, report says

A new report by analyst firm Juniper Research forecasts that ereader shipments will reach 67 million by 2016, triple the 25 million devices that will be shipped in 2011.

This is less than half the 55 million tablets that will be shipped this year. However, Juniper says that ereader price drops across the board "will ensure that the device continues to carve out a niche for itself in the wireless device ecosystem."

For example, Amazon, which boosted tablet forecasts with its launch of the Kindle Fire, is still dedicated to releasing new Kindle ereaders.

“Amazon has done its homework," says Report author Daniel Ashdown. "It knows there is not a one-size-fits-all device that makes everyone happy. While the iPad 2 – which it sells – is a premium tablet for Generation Y, Amazon has the wider market covered.” Barnes & Noble is also covering its bases with the Nook Color, a touchscreen LCD eReader with an app store, and Kobo, with the Vox, a ereader-tablet hybrid.

Speaking of hybrids, Juniper’s report found that vendors are exploring hybrid displays which integrate both LCD and electronic ink technology. LCD is superior for high resolution video but electronic ink provides a more comfortable reading experience and utilises less battery.

Check out the whitepaper, "Tablets, Viva La Evolution!" and further details of the study, "Tablet & eReader Evolution: Strategies & Opportunities 2011-2016."