Global shipments of Android-based tablets powered by Intel CPUs are expected to drop to 10.8 million units in 2015, down from14.23 million shipped a year earlier. Meanwhile, sales of Android smartphones powered by Intel's processors are likely to surpass 10 million units in the year, according to Digitimes Research.

Although Intel has become more conservative on marketing of its mobile products in 2015 after its mobile CPU unit incurred a loss of US$4.2 billion in 2014, the rising popularity of 2-in-1 PCs and the launch of Windows 10 will push Microsoft, brand OEMs and white-box makers to pour more resources into developing mobile devices in 2015, which will help Intel ramp up its shipments of mobile CPUs.

Meanwhile, there is room for Asustek Computer to further expand shipments of its Atom 3-based ZenFone 2 smartphones, and Intel's cooperation with China-based white-box handset maker Water World Technology will be also instrumental to boosting sales of Intel's mobile CPUs.

Overall, global shipments of Intel-based mobile devices are expected to reach 43.2 million units in 2015, increasing nearly 20% from a year earlier, Digitimes Research estimated.