India's tablet PC shipments recover in 2024, register sharp 42.8% on-year growth

Tablet PC shipments in India recovered in 2024, registering a sharp 42.8% on-year growth to 5.73 million units, according to market research firm IDC.

The tablet segment, which declined 24.9% in 2023, recovered on the back of strong channel promotions, discounts and cashback as well as a sharp growth in government-funded education projects. Improved features in Android-powered tablets made them more attractive over rising notebook prices, fueling further growth this year, IDC said.

The consumer segment grew by 19.2% in 2024, driven by sales from online channels. The commercial segment grew 69.7% on-year, fueled by shipments doubling to the education sector through government procurement.

“With Android tablets getting better cameras, software updates, and app integration, tablets are becoming the device of choice for light productivity and entertainment and attracting a certain section of PC buyers,” said Priyansh Tiwari, research analyst, IDC India.

Cybermedia Research (CMR) said the tablet market registered 25% on-year growth in 2024, driven by a surge in 5G and premium tablet shipments, with Apple leading the market with 29% market share, followed by Samsung and Lenovo.

The research firm noted that despite almost 60% of tablet shipments falling in the entry-level segment (less than $300), the average selling price increased from $309 in 2023 to $336 in 2024 in the consumer segment.

IDC said rising component costs are pushing prices of notebooks up in India, and tablets are becoming an attractive alternative for customers.

Samsung led the tablet market in India with a 42.6% share in 2024, leading both commercial and consumer shipments, maintaining a strong presence in public sector education projects and in consumer channels through heavy inventory push during online sales.

Other tablet brands such as Acer and Apple also benefited from fulfilling key government and education deals. Commercial shipments of Apple iPads grew 45.3% on-year driven by increased adoption by top management in enterprise and government ministries, along with FMCG companies, IDC said.

“The commercial tablet continues to remain as a popular computing device in several big-ticket manifesto deals. The acceptance of tablets in verticals such as FMCG, hospitality, BFSI, etc., is also on the rise as it is seen as a portable productivity device. With AI-powered tablets expected to be launched in coming months, the tablet market is expected to maintain its growth momentum in the consumer segment as well,” said Bharath Shenoy, research manager, devices research, IDC India.