India’s Tablet Market Drops by 20% YoY – Samsung in Lead & Apple Falls to 4th in Q3
As per the IDC report, online platforms witnessed significant growth of 53.9 per cent compared to the previous year.
Indian electronic tablet makers shipped 1.33 million units in Q3 2025, marking a 20% YoY drop, report by International Data Corporation (IDC), a global provider of market research reports.
The tablet category includes slate and detachable models. The latter variant witnessed a 7.3% rise, but this growth was offset by a sharp 29.4% decline in demand for slate variants. This dragged down the whole market growth.
The report also notes that consumer market grew 13.5% YoY, driven by festive season demand, heavy promotional offers, bank incentives, and refreshed device lineups. Online platforms also saw significant growth, with e-commerce channels expanding 53.9% compared to last year.
Who’s On Top?
Despite the decline, the ranking of brands remains relatively stable. For Q3 2025:
| Rank | Brand | Market Share (Q3 2025) |
| 1 | Samsung | 37.5 % |
| 2 | Lenovo | 16.8 % |
| 3 | Xiaomi | 15.5 % |
| 4 | Apple | 9.2 % |
| 5 | Acer | 7.9 % |
Why Did the Consumer Demand Grow?
- Festive season
- New device lineup
- Cashback and exchange schemes
- Rising demand for tablets in smaller cities
Commercial tablet shipments fell 53.5% YoY, making it the most affected segment. In the education sector, tablet deployment plunged 61.9%, while purchases by small offices dropped by 47.9%. The report highlights that this drop reflects delays in education related tenders, tighter budgets among small and medium sized businesses and extended device replacement cycles.
Why did the commercial market decline?
- Delays in education-related tenders
- Tighter budgets among small and medium-sized businesses
- Extended device replacement cycles
According to IDC analyst Priyansh Tiwari, festive online sales played a key role in boosting tablet adoption, especially in smaller cities. Moreover, tablets are now being used not just for entertainment but also for productivity, particularly when paired with accessories like a keyboard or stylus.
The overall tablet market shrank by about 20 per cent compared to last year. Samsung stayed at the top, maintaining its leadership position in Q3 2025 with a 37.5 per cent market share. Lenovo followed with 16.8 per cent, while Xiaomi held 15.5 per cent, taking the second and third positions, respectively.
Apple and Acer were in fourth and fifth positions with market shares of 9.2 per cent and 7.9 per cent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2025.
Conclusion – What’s Next?
Even with the decline, there’s reason to believe tablets remain relevant in India’s evolving tech ecosystem. As PC prices keep going up, many consumers and small businesses are turning to tablets as a budget-friendly alternative.
Analysts at IDC also foresee tablets becoming more than just media-consumption devices — with features like stylus support, detachable keyboards, and (increasingly) AI-powered tools, tablets could emerge as lightweight productivity devices for students, freelancers, and small-business owners.
That said, the flood of inventory pushed during festive season may need some time to stabilise. Vendors might need to watch carefully for possible inventory correction in coming quarters.