India’s tablet market is witnessing a significant slowdown. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, shipments in the first half of 2025 (1H25) fell sharply, with a notable 42.1% year-over-year (YoY) drop in Q2 alone. While consumer demand remains steady, a steep decline in the commercial sector has weighed heavily on overall performance.

Market Overview: A Tale of Two Segments

Total Shipments: 2.15 million units in 1H25

Overall Decline: 32.2% YoY

Segment Split:

Detachable tablets: +18.9% YoY (growth driven by flexibility and hybrid work needs)

Slate tablets: -44.4% YoY (continued decline as buyers shift to 2-in-1 and premium devices)

The downturn in Q2 was particularly sharp after a relatively milder contraction in Q1 (down 18.4% YoY). IDC attributes this largely to reduced government-funded programs and a weaker commercial demand cycle.

Consumer Segment: Bright Spot in the Market

Interestingly, the consumer tablet segment showed 20.5% YoY growth in 1H25, bucking the overall trend.

Growth Drivers:

Aggressive vendor discounts and exclusive online launches

Cashback offers, EMI options, and e-commerce events like Amazon Prime Day and Back-to-School promotions

Demand for larger displays, stylus-supported models, and budget-friendly tablets

IDC analyst Priyansh Tiwari highlighted that online sales outpaced offline, but retail stores and brand outlets also contributed to this positive trend.

Commercial Segment: A Major Drag

The commercial tablet market contracted 61.7% YoY in 1H25.

Education Sector: Down 66.7% YoY due to postponed or canceled tenders.

Enterprise Segment: Declined 26.2% YoY, affected by SMB cost-cutting and a lack of large-scale refresh cycles.

This steep fall contrasts sharply with the consumer segment’s momentum, pulling overall market numbers into negative territory.

@IDC

Vendor Performance: Top 5 Tablet Brands in India (1H25)

Samsung – 41.3% market share

Dominated both consumer (37.6%) and commercial (47.9%) segments

Strong presence in public sector projects and aggressive online sales

Lenovo – 12.3% market share

Strength in SMB and enterprise adoption

Solid online presence, improving consumer traction

Apple – 11.8% market share

Consumer market: 14.4% share boosted by new iPads & student discounts

Enterprise share surged to 20.1%, overall commercial share 7.3%

Xiaomi – 11.4% market share

Strong 28.5% YoY growth in consumer demand

Value-for-money product strategy kept momentum high

Acer – 9.1% market share

Suffered a steep 73.1% YoY decline

Education deal cancellations and slower enterprise demand hit performance

Expert Outlook: What Lies Ahead for India’s Tablet Market

IDC predicts the consumer tablet market could triple by the end of 2025, supported by demand for affordable, portable alternatives to laptops.

However, the commercial segment outlook remains weak:

Government demand is slowing due to fewer large-scale procurements.

Education refresh cycles of 3–4 years mean limited near-term demand.

Enterprises continue to prioritize cost optimization over fleet upgrades.

IDC’s Bharath Shenoy noted:

“Tablets offer a balance of affordability and productivity, especially for consumers. However, the commercial sector is expected to see continued double-digit declines in upcoming quarters.”

Conclusion

India’s tablet market is undergoing a clear dichotomy—consumer demand remains resilient, fueled by affordability and online promotions, while the commercial side faces steep headwinds. With Samsung, Lenovo, and Apple leading the pack, and Xiaomi gaining ground, the sector is evolving towards consumer-first growth.

Source @ IDC

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The post India’s Tablet Market Shrinks 42% in Q2 2025: Consumer Growth Offsets Commercial Slowdown, IDC Reports appeared first on Before You Take.