With booming 5G adoption and premium tablet trends in the festive season, India’s tablet market exploded with a 46% YoY and 79% QoQ growth in 3Q24. Apple ruled the market.
The Indian tablet market saw an impressive 46% year-on-year (YoY) growth and skyrocketed with 79% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth in Q3 2024. According to CyberMedia Research (CMR)’s report, this growth has been fuelled by the increasing adoption of 5G tablets and a trend towards premium products during the festive season.
Wi-Fi-only tablets held a strong 62% market share in Q3 2024, favoured for their affordability and suitability for home use. Meanwhile, 5G tablets saw significant growth, securing 19% of the market as consumers sought high-performance, portable devices.
Commenting on the dominant brands, Menka Kumari, Analyst – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, noted, “Apple and Samsung are clear winners from these strong tailwinds. Recent market entrants, including Xiaomi and OnePlus, are also gaining traction among value-conscious consumers.”
Apple dominated the Indian tablet market in 3Q24, capturing a 34% market share and achieving a notable 95% YoY growth. The new iPad 10 Series played a pivotal role in this success, accounting for 60% of Apple’s total shipments.
Samsung secured the second spot with a 25% market share and a 70% YoY growth. Its diverse product lineup, including premium and budget-friendly tablets, has helped the brand appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers. The Samsung Galaxy A9 Plus 5G was particularly significant, contributing 52% of Samsung’s total shipments in the quarter.
Xiaomi experienced remarkable growth with a 146% YoY increase in tablet sales. The brand’s value-for-money offerings, including the popular Redmi Pad (with 37% of shipments) and Redmi Pad SE WiFi (having 26% shipped), played a crucial role in Xiaomi’s surge, particularly in India’s price-sensitive market.
In contrast, Lenovo struggled in Q3 2024, facing a 13% decline in unit sales. Although the Lenovo Tab M11 4G + Wi-Fi (with 28% market share) and Lenovo Tab Plus (16% market share) were the top contributors to its shipments, they could not offset the overall decline in sales.
OnePlus achieved a 97% YoY increase in tablet sales. The OnePlus Pad Go Wi-Fi Series was a standout product, making up 57% of OnePlus’s total shipments, further establishing the brand’s growing presence in the competitive tablet market.
Kumari stated, “India’s value-conscious consumers are prioritising better-speed tablets for work, learning and play. As brands align their strategies with consumer expectations, the future of the tablet market looks incredibly promising.”
