India’s tablet market, covering detachable and slate devices, shipped 2.15 million units in the first half of 2025 (1H25), marking a 32.2% year-over-year (YoY) decline, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.
The slowdown intensified in 2Q25, with shipments declining 42.1% YoY, following an 18.4% drop in Q1. IDC noted the downturn was largely due to weaker commercial demand, caused by a slowdown in government-supported manifesto programs, which traditionally drive a substantial portion of commercial tablet sales.
Segment Performance: Detachables Up, Slate Tablets Fall
IDC noted that detachable tablets rose 18.9% YoY, whereas slate tablets fell 44.4% YoY, with the drop in slates offsetting detachable growth and shrinking the overall market.
Consumer Segment Shows Growth
The consumer tablet segment grew 20.5% YoY in 1H25, boosted by robust online and retail demand, promotional events like Amazon Prime Day and Back-to-School, and strategic vendor inventory management.
Priyansh Tiwari, Research Analyst at IDC India & South Asia, noted that online sales exceeded offline channels, aided by exclusive launches, cashback offers, and EMI schemes. Brand-owned stores and regional retail outlets also contributed to volume growth.
He added that larger displays, stylus-friendly models, and affordable tablets gained popularity, contributing to stronger segment performance.
Commercial Segment Contracts Significantly
The commercial segment declined 61.7% YoY, with the education sub-segment dropping 66.7% and enterprise falling 26.2%. IDC highlighted that the decline was influenced by canceled or delayed education tenders, cost-cutting measures by SMBs, and limited refresh cycles among large enterprises.
Top 5 Vendors: 1H25 Market Shares
- Samsung: 41.3% total; commercial 47.9%, consumer 37.6%; 2Q25: 40.8%. Maintained leadership through government education initiatives and online inventory management.
- Lenovo: 12.3% overall; strong in SMB and enterprise; 2Q25: 13%. Gained traction across SMB and enterprise segments and performed well in consumer e-commerce channels.
- Apple: 11.8% total; consumer 14.4%, enterprise 20.1%, commercial 7.3%; 2Q25: 12.1%. Supported by iPad releases and student discounts.
- Xiaomi: 11.4% total; consumer growth 28.5% YoY; 2Q25: 12.2%. Growth driven by budget-friendly and consumer-oriented tablet models.
- Acer: 9.1% total; declined 73.1% YoY; 2Q25: 9.4%. Decline attributed to education deal cancellations and weak enterprise sales.
Outlook: Consumer Growth Expected, Commercial Weakness May Continue
Bharath Shenoy, Research Manager at IDC India & South Asia, said that India’s consumer tablet market experienced a twofold increase between 2019 and 2021 and is projected to expand threefold by the end of 2025. He noted that tablets continue to appeal to cost-sensitive users by offering a functional and portable alternative to traditional laptops.
Shenoy further observed that demand from public sector and education buyers has tapered off, largely due to a typical 3–4 year refresh cycle. This slowdown, he forecasted, may result in sustained double-digit declines in the commercial tablet segment over the coming quarters.