Samsung Leads India’s Tablet Market Despite Decline in Q4 2024 Sales

Samsung has continued to lead the tablet market in India, holding onto its position as the largest tablet brand in the country for 2024. However, during the last quarter of the year, the company experienced a decline in sales compared to the same period in 2023.

Recent data from market research firm IDC reveals that Samsung sold 321,000 tablets in the fourth quarter of 2024, securing a 35.5% share of the Indian tablet market. This figure represents a significant decrease of 26.8% from the fourth quarter of 2023 when the company sold nearly half a million tablets (439,000).

During this period, Samsung launched new models including the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which were designed to attract more consumers. Despite this decline in quarterly sales, Samsung performed exceptionally well over the entire year, shipping approximately 2.5 million tablets, showing a remarkable 54% increase from 2023. Their yearly market share also rose from 39.5% to 42.6%.

In the fourth quarter, Apple ranked as the second largest tablet manufacturer in India, selling 164,000 iPads and achieving an 18.1% market share, which was a substantial increase of 44.4% from the previous year. Lenovo, Xiaomi, and Acer followed as the third, fourth, and fifth biggest players in the market, respectively. Lenovo captured a 12.5% market share, but its sales fell by 21.5%. Xiaomi, on the other hand, saw a slight increase in sales of 2.3%, giving it a 10.5% market share. Acer managed to secure an 8.9% market share, even though its sales plummeted by 35.5% compared to Q4 2023.

Looking at the performance for the entire year, Samsung stood out with its remarkable sales numbers. The company’s growth was notable in the commercial sector, where they held a dominant 51.1% market share, particularly in areas like education and industries, while they secured a 32.1% share in the consumer market.

Acer emerged as a surprising contender with over 1 million tablet sales in 2024, representing an astonishing 265.8% growth compared to 2023. Apple was third for the year with an 11% market share, while both Lenovo and Xiaomi shared the fourth and fifth positions, both with 9% market shares. Xiaomi’s tablet shipments saw a remarkable doubling in India from the previous year.

The Indian tablet market is anticipated to continue its growth this year, largely fueled by the increasing adoption of tablets in fields such as education, business, hospitality, and retail. Looking ahead, Samsung is planning to release new models, including the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, before the year concludes.

In summary, while Samsung leads the tablet market in India, other companies are making significant strides, reflecting a competitive landscape with potential for further growth in various sectors.