India’s Tablet Market Overview 2025

India’s tablet market has witnessed a notable drop in the first half of 2025, with shipments decreasing by 32.2% year-over-year, as per the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC). This sharp downturn, with only 2.15 million units dispatched, is majorly linked to a significant decline in the commercial sector, where government-funded education initiatives have diminished.

Consumer Market Resilience

While the consumer segment exhibited impressive growth at 20.5%, it was insufficient to counterbalance the substantial 61.7% drop in commercial shipments. The slate tablet category suffered notably, facing a 44.4% decline, thus negatively impacting the overall market despite a healthy 18.9% increase in detachable tablets. The second quarter of 2025 posed considerable challenges, resulting in a 42.1% year-over-year decrease, following an 18.4% decline in the first quarter.

Bright Spot in Consumer Segment

In stark contrast, the consumer market has emerged as a beacon of growth. Strategies involving aggressive sales by brands, sustained demand from e-commerce platforms, and seasonal promotions such as Amazon Prime Day and Back-to-School campaigns have significantly contributed to this upward trend.

Priyansh Tiwari, a research analyst at IDC India & South Asia, noted that the consumer tablet segment continues to demonstrate robust momentum in India. The rise in online channels surpassing offline growth stems from exclusive product launches, cashback offers, and EMI options. Additionally, brand-owned outlets and regional retail chains have also been instrumental in driving volume expansions.

Brand Performance in 2025

From a branding perspective, Samsung retained its leading position with a notable 41.3% market share in the first half of 2025, dominating both the commercial and consumer arenas. Lenovo followed in second place with 12.3%, closely trailed by Apple at 11.8% and Xiaomi at 11.4%. Acer completed the top five with a 9.1% share, despite experiencing a significant 73.1% year-over-year decline due to the previously mentioned downturn in educational contracts.

Future Market Predictions

The outlook indicates a continued divergence between the two market segments. Bharath Shenoy, research manager for Devices Research at IDC India & South Asia, commented that the consumer tablet market doubled between 2019 and 2021 and is projected to triple by the end of 2025. However, he warned that the commercial segment might encounter a “high double-digit decline,” as the 3-4 year refresh cycle for government and educational procurements has led to a decrease in demand.