In Q3 2024, the Indian PC market, comprising desktops, notebooks and tablets, recorded an impressive 12% year-on-year growth, with total shipments reaching 6.3 million units. This growth was primarily driven by a 49% increase in tablet shipments, which totaled 1.9 million units. Notebook shipments also saw steady growth, rising by 3% to 3.5 million units, while desktop shipments declined by 12%, falling to 780,000 units. According to the latest Canalys forecast, PC and tablet shipments in India are expected to grow by 17% in 2024 and an additional 6% in 2025.
In Q3 2024, the Indian PC market (excluding tablets) remained relatively stable and had a flat year-on-year performance. The commercial segment performed well, posting a 2% increase driven by strong demand from the enterprise sector. In contrast, the consumer segment experienced a slight decline, mainly due to overstocking from the previous year, prompting vendors to adopt a more cautious inventory approach. Despite this, aggressive discounts toward the end of the quarter, particularly in online channels, helped mitigate the decline.
Meanwhile, the tablet market saw an impressive surge, growing by 49% year on year, marking its best-ever quarter. This growth was largely fueled by the completion of the Uttar Pradesh education tender by Samsung and Acer, significantly boosting the education segment, which saw triple-digit growth. Additionally, an early start to online festive sales and steady stock levels in online channels contributed to 7% year-on-year growth in consumer tablet sales.
Looking ahead, the Indian PC market is set for robust growth, projected to expand by 17% in 2024, with a more moderate 6% growth expected in 2025. “The surge in 2024 was primarily driven by continued strong demand from the education sector, which has become a key pillar of market expansion,” said Mr. Ashweej Aithal, Analyst at Canalys.
“In 2025, growth is expected to shift toward SMBs and enterprises, driven by a refresh cycle from the end of support for Windows 10 devices and the rising availability of AI PCs,” said Aithal. Additionally, consumer refresh cycles are expected to play a key role in driving demand for both PCs and tablets, adding further momentum to the market. The tablet segment will continue to be significantly influenced by government-driven education tenders, with a substantial influx of tenders anticipated in the coming quarters.
“The Indian government’s initiatives are playing a pivotal role in shaping the PC and tablet market,” added Aithal. A crucial policy now mandates that vendors and OEM partners ensure that 50% of devices are locally sourced to participate in government tenders. This regulation is expected to strengthen the “Make in India” initiative, giving domestic manufacturers an edge over international competitors. “While the policy has created short-term challenges due to infrastructure and supply chain readiness, it is ultimately positioned to reduce import dependency and bolster local manufacturing,” said Aithal. “The government’s openness to industry feedback signals a commitment to refining the policy, ensuring it aligns with market realities.”
Covered By: NCN MAGAZINE / Canalys
If you have an interesting Article / Report/case study to share, please get in touch with us at editors@roymediative.com , roy@roymediative.com, 9811346846/ 9625243429
