Stories
India Tablet Market Shrinks While Buyers Shift To Premium Models
- •India tablet shipments fell 3.8 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, driven by a sharp drop in budget devices.
- •Shipments for tablets priced below Rs 20,000 plunged 43 per cent, while devices priced above Rs 20,000 grew 27 per cent.
- •Rising costs for DRAM and storage components have put pressure on manufacturers, making budget tablets less viable and increasing average selling prices.
- •Consumers are increasingly purchasing larger, more expensive tablets for productivity, gaming, and work rather than basic entertainment.
- •Domestic manufacturing expanded by about 30 per cent year-on-year, with brands like Samsung, Lenovo, OnePlus, and Oppo increasing local production.
Key Questions Answered
India's overall tablet shipments declined by 3.8 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. Shipments for budget tablets priced below Rs 20,000 fell significantly by 43 per cent, whereas devices priced above Rs 20,000 grew by 27 per cent and now make up approximately 74 per cent of the market.
The primary driver is a sharp increase in costs for memory components like DRAM and storage, which puts heavy pressure on manufacturer profit margins. Brands are responding by raising prices, reducing the number of available variants, or shifting focus to higher-value devices.
Tablet production within India increased by approximately 30 per cent year-on-year during the second quarter of 2026. Major brands including Samsung, Lenovo, OnePlus, and Oppo have expanded their local manufacturing activities in the country.
