From China’s tablet boom to Japan’s Chromebook surge, Q2 2025 saw 39 million tablets shipped and education-fuelled PC growth reshape global device market dynamics.
Global tablet shipments climbed to 39 million units in Q2 2025, up 9% year-on-year (YoY) and 5% from the previous quarter, according to Canalys, now part of Omdia. Demand was strongest in China and across EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), with new product launches and gaming models fuelling interest.
Vendor-wise, Apple retained the lead, shipping 14.1 million iPads, a 2.4% annual rise and 36.1% share. Samsung followed with 6.66 million units, down 1.8%. Huawei moved into third place with 3.23 million units, up 29%. Lenovo shipped 3.1 million, growing 25%, while Xiaomi closed in with 3.05 million, a 42% leap thanks to its strong offline network in China.
Analysts noted subsidies in China and expanded commercial tenders worldwide as key growth drivers. Gaming tablets emerged as a fast-growing niche, especially in Asia, with notable launches from Xiaomi, Vivo and Lenovo.
“Vendors are also making tablets a key element as they advance their connected ecosystem strategies. HONOR unveiled its strategy in Q1 with its “Alpha” plan, followed in May by Xiaomi’s ‘Human x Car x Home’ initiative, which aims to seamlessly integrate smartphones, tablets, smart home devices and even electric vehicles,” noted Himani Mukka, Research Manager at Canalys.
Meanwhile, Chromebooks enjoyed a strong rebound. Global shipments reached 11 million in H1 2025, boosted by Japan’s large-scale refresh under the GIGA School Programme.
Deliveries to Japan surged more than twentyfold year on year. This momentum is expected to carry into mid-2026, with other markets also prioritising Chromebooks for education.
Lenovo dominated Chromebooks with 3.45 million units in H1, up 27% and holding 31.3% share. HP shipped 2.59 million, down 4.4%. Acer delivered 2.21 million units, up 9.6%. Dell fell 4.5% to 1.45 million, while ASUS posted the fastest growth: 43%, reaching 0.84 million units.
Industry observers expect continued strength in both segments through 2025, underpinned by education spending, emerging use cases, and aggressive product strategies from leading brands.
