Techno Blogging
India's tablet market grew 5% year over year in the first quarter of 2026 despite rising memory costs and broader market uncertainty, according to new data from Counterpoint Research.
The growth was driven by changing consumer preferences and expanding domestic manufacturing, highlighting the tablet segment's resilience even as rising component prices put pressure on the broader consumer electronics market.
Counterpoint said consumers are increasingly opting for tablets with larger displays, 5G connectivity and higher specifications, while viewing tablets as a cost-effective alternative to both laptops and smartphones amid inflationary pressures across device categories.
One of the strongest trends shaping the market is the growing popularity of larger-screen tablets. Devices such as Lenovo's Idea Tab series and Samsung's Ultra lineup have gained traction as consumers increasingly use tablets for both entertainment and productivity tasks.
The trend gathered further momentum during the quarter as Apple and Xiaomi introduced tablets featuring displays larger than 12 inches, reflecting growing demand for devices that blur the traditional boundaries between smartphones, tablets and laptops.
On the supply side, domestic tablet manufacturing continued to accelerate, with locally produced tablet volumes growing 61% year over year.
Samsung Electronics maintained its lead in domestic tablet production, while Lenovo expanded its portfolio of locally manufactured devices. Brands including Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme and OPPO have also increased local manufacturing activities in recent quarters.
According to Anshika Jain, Lenovo reclaimed the second position in India's tablet market after eight quarters, helped by strong demand for its Idea Tab lineup and greater localization of production.
Jain also highlighted the emergence of OnePlus among the top five tablet vendors, driven by sustained demand for its Pad Lite and Go 2 series, which are also manufactured locally.
The report points to a broader strengthening of India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem, with exports exceeding 200,000 tablet units during the quarter. Counterpoint said more brands are beginning to explore export opportunities from India as domestic production scales up.
The market is also witnessing continued premiumization. Consumers are increasingly seeking better displays, larger screens and higher-performance configurations, pushing average selling prices higher.
Counterpoint noted that tablet ASPs recorded double-digit growth during the quarter, although the full impact of rising memory costs has yet to be felt.
The research firm expects pricing pressures to become more visible from the second quarter onward as manufacturers pass on higher component costs to consumers in an effort to protect margins.
The findings suggest that while rising memory prices remain a challenge for device makers, strong demand for productivity-focused tablets and the continued expansion of local manufacturing are helping sustain growth in India's tablet market.
The growth was driven by changing consumer preferences and expanding domestic manufacturing, highlighting the tablet segment's resilience even as rising component prices put pressure on the broader consumer electronics market.
Counterpoint said consumers are increasingly opting for tablets with larger displays, 5G connectivity and higher specifications, while viewing tablets as a cost-effective alternative to both laptops and smartphones amid inflationary pressures across device categories.
One of the strongest trends shaping the market is the growing popularity of larger-screen tablets. Devices such as Lenovo's Idea Tab series and Samsung's Ultra lineup have gained traction as consumers increasingly use tablets for both entertainment and productivity tasks.
The trend gathered further momentum during the quarter as Apple and Xiaomi introduced tablets featuring displays larger than 12 inches, reflecting growing demand for devices that blur the traditional boundaries between smartphones, tablets and laptops.
On the supply side, domestic tablet manufacturing continued to accelerate, with locally produced tablet volumes growing 61% year over year.
Samsung Electronics maintained its lead in domestic tablet production, while Lenovo expanded its portfolio of locally manufactured devices. Brands including Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme and OPPO have also increased local manufacturing activities in recent quarters.
According to Anshika Jain, Lenovo reclaimed the second position in India's tablet market after eight quarters, helped by strong demand for its Idea Tab lineup and greater localization of production.
Jain also highlighted the emergence of OnePlus among the top five tablet vendors, driven by sustained demand for its Pad Lite and Go 2 series, which are also manufactured locally.
The report points to a broader strengthening of India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem, with exports exceeding 200,000 tablet units during the quarter. Counterpoint said more brands are beginning to explore export opportunities from India as domestic production scales up.
The market is also witnessing continued premiumization. Consumers are increasingly seeking better displays, larger screens and higher-performance configurations, pushing average selling prices higher.
Counterpoint noted that tablet ASPs recorded double-digit growth during the quarter, although the full impact of rising memory costs has yet to be felt.
The research firm expects pricing pressures to become more visible from the second quarter onward as manufacturers pass on higher component costs to consumers in an effort to protect margins.
The findings suggest that while rising memory prices remain a challenge for device makers, strong demand for productivity-focused tablets and the continued expansion of local manufacturing are helping sustain growth in India's tablet market.
See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
Tweets From @varindiamag
Nothing to see here - yet
When they Tweet, their Tweets will show up here.
