New Delhi, Oct 6: India’s tablet market is going through a noticeable shift as rising memory component costs begin to weigh on overall shipments, while consumers increasingly favour better-equipped, higher-priced devices.
According to recent industry data, tablet shipments in India declined 3.8 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. The slowdown was particularly visible in the affordable segment, where higher component costs have made it more difficult for manufacturers to maintain low price points.
The sub-Rs 20,000 segment fell 43 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. In contrast, tablets priced above Rs 20,000 grew 27 per cent, showing that demand is moving towards products offering larger displays, stronger processors, more memory and better productivity features.
This shift has also pushed up the average selling price of tablets. The average price increased by around 15 per cent year-on-year during the quarter as brands raised prices and reduced some lower-memory variants.
Consumers Look Beyond Basic Tablets
The changing market suggests that tablets are increasingly being viewed as more than secondary entertainment devices. Consumers are opting for models that can support online learning, office work, content creation, video consumption and multitasking.
Larger screens are becoming particularly popular. Tablets with displays above 12 inches are gaining traction in the higher-price category as users increasingly treat them as an additional screen for work and entertainment.
The trend follows strong premiumisation earlier in the year. Industry data showed that premium tablets priced above Rs 20,000 accounted for a dominant share of India’s tablet market during the first half of 2026, reflecting growing demand for higher specifications.
Memory Costs Reshape the Market
The sharp rise in memory prices has become one of the biggest challenges for device manufacturers. Memory is a key component in tablets, particularly as consumers increasingly demand higher RAM and storage capacities.
Instead of absorbing the entire increase in costs, manufacturers have raised prices and streamlined their product portfolios. This has made entry-level tablets more expensive and encouraged brands to focus on models where consumers may be more willing to pay for additional features.
The pressure is also being felt across other consumer electronics categories, with higher memory and component costs contributing to price increases in smartphones and computers.
Local Manufacturing Gains Momentum
Despite the slowdown in shipments, India’s tablet manufacturing ecosystem continues to expand. Domestic tablet production increased strongly during the second quarter, with major manufacturers increasing local assembly and production.
Greater localisation could help companies manage supply chains more efficiently while strengthening India’s position as a manufacturing and export base for consumer electronics.
What Lies Ahead
The tablet market is likely to remain under pressure as long as memory costs stay elevated. However, festive-season discounts and promotional offers could provide some support to consumer demand.
The bigger change may be structural. As tablets become more powerful, offer larger displays and support keyboards, styluses and productivity applications, they are increasingly occupying the space between smartphones and laptops.
For consumers, this means fewer ultra-cheap options but a wider focus on devices designed for longer-term use. For manufacturers, the challenge will be to balance rising component costs with competitive pricing while continuing to meet the growing demand for premium features.