India’s tablet market experienced a significant contraction in the first half of 2025 (1H25), shipping a total of 2.15 million units, representing a 32.2% year-over-year (YoY) decline, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). This total includes both detachable and slate tablets.
The steep decline was primarily driven by the commercial segment, especially due to a reduction in government-funded manifesto programs that historically supported large-scale tablet deployments in schools and other public institutions. The overall market experienced a sharper contraction in 2Q25, with shipments falling 42.1% YoY, following an 18.4% decline in 1Q25.
Performance by Tablet Segment
Consumer Tablets: Despite the overall market decline, India’s consumer tablet market grew 20.5% YoY in 1H25. Growth was fueled by strong demand across e-commerce platforms, retail stores, and online channels. Aggressive vendor strategies, seasonal promotions, and increased adoption of tablets for entertainment and personal productivity contributed to the consumer market’s resilience.
Commercial Tablets: The commercial segment faced a severe decline of 61.7% YoY. Within this segment, the education category dropped by 66.7%, while the enterprise category saw a 26.2% decrease. The slowdown in government-funded initiatives, coupled with cost-cutting measures and extended device refresh cycles, contributed to this decline.
Detachable vs. Slate Tablets: While detachable tablets grew 18.9% YoY, reflecting increased interest in flexible, productivity-oriented devices, slate tablets dropped sharply by 44.4% YoY, significantly impacting overall market volumes.
Summary Table
Metric |
Value |
|---|---|
Total Shipments (1H25) |
2.15 million units |
Overall Market YoY Decline |
32.2% |
Consumer Segment Growth |
20.5% |
Commercial Segment Decline |
61.7% |
Detachable Tablet Growth |
18.9% |
Slate Tablet Decline |
44.4% |
Market Share by Vendor
Samsung: Samsung continued to dominate the Indian tablet market in 1H25, capturing 41.3% overall market share. The brand led both commercial (47.9%) and consumer (37.6%) segments, supported by public sector projects and strong e-commerce presence. In 2Q25, Samsung maintained a 40.8% share of total market shipments.
Lenovo: Lenovo secured second place with 12.3% overall market share. The company performed particularly well in the commercial segment, holding a 13% share of total shipments. Lenovo’s presence in enterprise and education deployments helped it maintain a strong position despite the overall market decline.
Apple: Apple ranked third with 11.8% overall market share. It held a 14.4% share in the consumer segment and increased its commercial segment share to 7.3%, including a 20.1% share in the enterprise sector. In 2Q25, Apple’s overall market share rose slightly to 12.1%.
Xiaomi: Xiaomi came fourth with 11.4% overall market share. Its consumer segment experienced growth of 28.5% YoY, highlighting the brand’s increasing popularity among personal users. In 2Q25, Xiaomi held a 12.2% share of total shipments.
Acer: Acer ranked fifth with a 9.1% market share, despite experiencing a dramatic YoY decline of 73.1%. In 2Q25, Acer’s share of total market shipments was 9.4%.
Key Factors Affecting Market Trends
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Government-Funded Programs: A reduction in government-backed education and enterprise initiatives had a significant impact on commercial tablet shipments. These programs traditionally contributed a large share of overall sales in the commercial sector.
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Consumer Demand: Sustained interest in tablets for personal use and entertainment, along with online and retail promotions, helped the consumer segment grow despite the overall market contraction.
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Product Preferences: The rising popularity of detachable tablets indicates a shift in consumer preference towards devices that combine portability with productivity, while traditional slate tablets continue to see declining demand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why did India’s tablet market decline in 1H25?
A. The decline was mainly due to reduced commercial shipments, particularly from government-funded education and enterprise programs.
Q2: Which companies led the tablet market in India?
A. Samsung led the market with a 41.3% share, followed by Lenovo at 12.3% and Apple at 11.8%.
Q3: How did detachable and slate tablets perform?
A. Detachable tablets grew 18.9% YoY, while slate tablets declined 44.4% YoY.
Q4: What drove growth in the consumer segment?
A. Aggressive vendor strategies, e-commerce promotions, retail campaigns, and strong personal-use demand contributed to consumer segment growth.
Q5: How did government programs affect the commercial segment?
A. Reduced funding for government-backed initiatives, especially in education, caused a steep decline in commercial tablet shipments.
Official Sources
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