India's Tablet Market Faces Steep Decline in Early 2025, But Hope Dawns for Recovery

India's tablet market has hit a significant bump in the road, experiencing a sharp 32.3% year-over-year decline in shipments during the first half of 2025. A mere 1.83 million units found their way into consumers' hands, painting a challenging picture for a sector that once thrived on hybrid work and learning trends.

This considerable downturn is largely attributed to a confluence of factors: a palpable weakness in consumer demand, the lingering shadows of an economic slowdown, and a noticeable reduction in attractive online channel offers that previously fueled sales.

The market is clearly feeling the pinch of tighter household budgets and cautious spending.

Despite the challenging landscape, one name continues to shine brightly at the top: Samsung. The South Korean tech giant successfully retained its leadership position, capturing a robust 24.3% market share with 0.44 million units shipped.

This performance underscores Samsung's strong brand loyalty and diverse product portfolio, enabling it to weather the storm more effectively than some competitors.

Following Samsung, Lenovo secured the second spot, accounting for 23.3% of the market with 0.43 million units shipped. While overall market sentiments were low, Lenovo demonstrated a glimmer of growth, particularly within the commercial segment, highlighting the enduring demand for business-oriented solutions.

Apple, with its premium offerings, secured the third position, holding a 14.6% market share and shipping 0.27 million units. Xiaomi and realme rounded out the top five, with market shares of 8.5% and 7.4% respectively, battling for relevance in a contracting market.

Interestingly, not all segments faced a downturn.

The premium tablet market, encompassing devices priced above USD 500, showed a promising growth of 6.7%. This indicates a continued appetite among certain consumers for high-end devices, perhaps for specialized professional or creative uses. Furthermore, detachable tablet shipments surged by an impressive 20.3%.

These versatile devices, combining the portability of a tablet with the functionality of a laptop, are increasingly sought after for enhanced productivity and flexible learning environments.

Looking ahead, the industry remains cautiously optimistic. Analysts anticipate a significant recovery in the second half of 2025, buoyed by the eagerly awaited festive season, which traditionally sparks a surge in consumer spending.

The introduction of innovative new products and the initiation of large-scale commercial and educational projects are also expected to inject much-needed vitality into the market. However, despite this projected rebound, the full year 2025 is still forecast to see an overall year-over-year decline of 10.4% for the Indian tablet market, suggesting that while recovery is on the horizon, the path back to sustained growth may be gradual.