This represents a 7% rise from the figure recorded in December 2013. Mintel estimates that 9.5 million tablets were sold in 2013, up from 5.6 million in 2012.

The upward trend looks set to continue, with 21% of Brits intending to purchase or upgrade a tablet computer in the next three months.

“Tablets are now in half of homes in the UK, despite arriving on the market in their current form just four years ago,” said Paul Davies, senior leisure and technology analyst at Mintel. “Tablets have not replaced other computers, but have instead provided many people with an additional form factor, thereby allowing them to pick the optimum device for the type of activity they want to perform.

“Indeed, the rise of tablets has exemplified consumers’ enthusiasm for portable, personal computers.”