India’s Tablet Market: India’s tablet shipments fell sharply in Q3 2025, with makers collectively shipping 1.33 million units, marking a 19.7% year-over-year decline, according to the latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.
The overall category — which includes slate and detachable tablets — saw mixed performance. While detachables grew 7.3%, this momentum was overshadowed by a steep 29.4% drop in slate tablets. IDC attributes the overall decline primarily to weak commercial demand, even as the consumer market recorded its strongest growth in a decade.
Consumer Tablet Market Grew 13.5% YoY, Boosted by Festive Demand
Despite the overall slowdown, the consumer segment surged 13.5% year-over-year, driven by:
- Festive season demand
- Aggressive promotional offers
- Bank-led cashback incentives
- Updated device lineups
Vendors also pushed heavy inventory into retail channels to maximise sales during online festive periods.
The Indian e-commerce space continued to grow as well, with online tablet sales rising 53.9% YoY.
Commercial Tablet Shipments Hit Hard: Down 53.5%
In contrast, the commercial market saw a massive decline of 53.5% YoY, making it the most affected segment.
Key contributors to the drop included:
- 61.9% decline in education-sector deployments
- 47.9% decline in small office purchases
- Delayed education tenders
- Tighter budgets for SMEs
- Longer device replacement cycles
IDC analyst Priyansh Tiwari highlighted that online festive sales significantly boosted tablet uptake, especially in smaller cities. He added that tablets are increasingly being used for productivity, particularly when paired with keyboards and styluses.
However, Tiwari noted that high channel inventory remains a concern, even though consumer sell-through remains strong.
IDC Q3 2025 Tablet Market Share: Samsung Leads Again
| Rank | Company | 3Q25 Shipments (000s) | 3Q24 Shipments (000s) | 3Q25 Market Share | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung | 500 | 690 | 37.5% | -27.6% |
| 2 | Lenovo | 224 | 168 | 16.8% | +33.2% |
| 3 | Xiaomi | 207 | 228 | 15.5% | -9.4% |
| 4 | Apple | 123 | 170 | 9.2% | -27.8% |
| 5 | Acer | 105 | 266 | 7.9% | -60.6% |
| — | Others | 174 | 136 | 13% | +28.2% |
| Total | — | 1,332 | 1,659 | 100% | -19.7% |
Brand Highlights
Samsung
Samsung retained its top position with a 37.5% market share, dominating:
- Commercial market with 49.7% share
- Consumer market with 32.6% share
The brand benefited from strong adoption in public-sector education projects and an expanded presence in online channels.
Lenovo
Lenovo secured second place with 16.8% market share, driven by:
- 19.3% share in the consumer segment
- Growing enterprise demand
- Motorola-branded tablets appealing to younger buyers
Xiaomi
With a 15.5% market share, Xiaomi stood out due to its:
- 21.8% consumer share
- Competitive pricing
- Attractive exchange offers
- Bundled accessories during online sale events
Apple
Apple ranked fourth with 9.2% share, maintaining steady demand from enterprise and education segments despite competitive pressure from Android brands.
Acer
Acer held 7.9% share, supported by the completion of various educational deployments and a strong 26.4% share in the commercial category.
What’s Next for India’s Tablet Market?
IDC’s Bharath Shenoy believes the Indian tablet market continues to show resilience, supported by evolving use cases. Tablets are increasingly becoming AI-enabled productivity tools, offering personalised workflows and enhancing both work and learning experiences.
With PC prices expected to rise, Shenoy notes that tablets could:
- Serve as a cost-effective alternative for new buyers
- Support government-driven digital initiatives
- Help balance declining demand in the traditional PC market
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