Global e-book reader shipments in the fourth quarter of 2012 will reach 4.57 million units, hiking 92% on quarter but dropping 49.1% on year, according to Digitimes Research.

Thus, 2012 global shipments will reach 9.82 million e-book readers, decreasing 57.3% from 2011. Amazon will be the largest vendor in 2012 accounting for 55% of global shipments, followed by Japan-based Kobo with 20%, Barnes and Noble with 10% and Sony with 6%.

Due to increasing competition from 7-inch tablets and large-screen smartphones, global e-book reader shipments will continue falling to 8.2 million units in 2013, 6.5 million units in 2014 and five million units in 2015, Digitimes says.