Driven by AI, Windows 10’s exit, and rising demand in smaller cities, India’s PC market looks promising, while tablets hit a temporary speed bump, declining 8% YoY in 2025.
India’s personal computer (PC) market is projected to grow 6% in 2025, surpassing 15 million units, according to the latest research from Canalys, now part of Omdia. The growth will be fuelled by enterprise refresh cycles and the end of Windows 10 support, with continued momentum expected in 2026.
In Q1 2025, PC shipments rose 13% year-on-year (YoY) to 3.3 million units. Notebook shipments soared by 21% to 2.4 million, while desktop shipments fell 3% to 906,000 units.
The report highlighted that notebooks remain the cornerstone of India’s digital acceleration, driven by hybrid work models and rising productivity needs across users.
Additionally, AI-capable notebooks witnessed a massive 253% growth YoY in Q1, albeit from a small base. Premium notebook models (priced over $1,000) rose 49%, reflecting robust demand.
Commenting on this trend, Ashweej Aithal, Senior Analyst at Canalys, noted, “Enterprises increasingly view AI as a core feature, while consumers are turning to premium PCs for their multi-use value.”
Consumer PC shipments grew 16% in Q1, boosted by Republic Day promotions and strong retail performance. Commercial shipments also rose 11%, while government demand remained muted.
Canalys expects total PC shipments to reach 14.95 million in 2025, with growth across all segments: consumer (2.5%), commercial (7.9%), government (4.6%), and education (24.3%).
In contrast, India’s tablet market declined 24% YoY in Q1 2025, with total shipments falling to 1 million units. Procurement delays in the education sector significantly impacted commercial tablet demand, resulting in a 54% drop.
“The consumer segment grew by 21% YoY, helped by back-to-school campaigns and offline retail expansion,” Aithal noted.
Based on this performance, overall, tablet shipments are forecast to shrink 8% in 2025. However, a rebound is expected in 2026 as delayed government and education tenders are executed. Education is set to be the primary growth driver for tablets by late 2025.
Meanwhile, tier-two and tier-three cities are emerging as key PC demand centres. “These users are value-conscious, prioritising performance, durability and after-sales service,” said Aithal. Increased broadband access and digital awareness are driving demand in these regions.
Looking ahead, the report predicts that 2025 will be a pivotal year. AI-capable PCs will gain traction, consumer demand will hold steady, and ‘Make-in-India’ initiatives are likely to expand.
“2025 will be a bridge year – setting the foundation for a more decisive shift toward AI adoption, localisation and value-driven demand in 2026,” Aithal concluded.
