According to a recent report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), India’s tablet market saw a notable downturn in the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025). Overall tablet shipments experienced a substantial year-over-year (YoY) decline of 19.7%, with a total of 1.33 million units shipped.
However, the news isn’t entirely bleak. The primary driver behind this slump was a sharp contraction in the commercial segment, while the consumer market delivered its best performance in a decade, fueled by the festive season demand.
Downturn Driven by Slump in Commercial Segment
The IDC report indicates that the significant drop in the overall market was largely a result of a massive 53.5% decrease in commercial and institutional demand.
- Education Projects: Shipments related to education sector deployments fell by a steep 61.9%.
- Small Offices (SOHO): Purchases from Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) segments also dropped by 47.9%, attributed to cost-cutting measures and longer device refresh cycles.
Festive Season Boosts Consumer Market
In contrast, the consumer market demonstrated strong growth, driven by festive season demand and aggressive online sales strategies.
- 13.5% Growth: The consumer segment witnessed a 13.5% YoY growth, marking its best performance in the last decade.
- E-commerce Dominance: Online retail (e-commerce) channels saw an impressive 53.9% increase, as brands enticed consumers with discounts, bank offers, and exchange deals.
Market Share: Samsung Leads, Xiaomi Rises to Third
In terms of market share, Samsung maintained its leadership position. According to the IDC report for Q3 2025, the standings for key brands were as follows:
| Brand | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Samsung | 37.5% |
| Lenovo | 16.8% |
| Xiaomi | 15.5% |
| Apple | 9.2% |
| Acer | 7.9% |
The report also revealed that while traditional ‘slate’ tablet shipments fell by 29.4%, ‘detachable’ tablets (those with keyboard attachments) grew by 7.3%. Analysts suggest that the future inclusion of technologies like AI is likely to sustain stable growth in the consumer tablet market.
