The Indian tablet market recorded a 5% year-over-year growth in the first quarter of 2026, despite rising memory prices and a challenging macroeconomic environment. This expansion was primarily fueled by evolving consumer demand for larger screens and 5G capabilities, alongside a significant increase in domestic manufacturing, according to a report by [Counterpoint Research](http://www.counterpointresearch.com/) released on June 1, 2026.
Average Selling Prices (ASPs) for tablets increased by 20% year-over-year, reflecting an ongoing trend towards premium devices and the impact of higher memory component costs.
Table of Contents
Key Market Drivers and Trends
Demand-side factors contributing to the growth include a sustained preference among consumers for larger screen sizes, higher configurations, and 5G-enabled devices. Tablets are increasingly viewed as a cost-effective alternative to laptops and smartphones, particularly amidst rising memory component prices across the electronics sector.
On the supply side, domestic manufacturing saw substantial growth, expanding over 61% year-over-year in volume terms. This surge was supported by major brands like Lenovo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus increasing their localized product portfolios. Additionally, tablet exports from India surpassed 200,000 units during the quarter, with Samsung and Lenovo leading the segment and further bolstering the country’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Larger Displays and Premiumization Drive Demand
A significant trend observed in Q1 2026 was the increasing consumer inclination towards larger screen sizes. Devices with displays exceeding 12 inches gained further traction as users increasingly sought tablets for productivity tasks in addition to media consumption. This trend was reinforced by product launches from Apple and Xiaomi, both introducing models with displays larger than 12 inches, alongside established offerings like Lenovo’s Idea Tab series and Samsung’s Ultra series, which have demonstrated consistent performance over recent quarters.
Principal Analyst Anshika Jain commented on the evolving market dynamics, stating, “Lenovo recaptured the second position in the Indian Tablet Market after eight quarters. This growth was largely due to increased domestic production and sustained demand for the Idea Tab series within the larger display category. Another notable change was the entry of OnePlus into the top five, driven by the strong performance of its Pad Lite and Go 2 series, which are also being domestically produced. Exports continued their expansion, reaching over 200,000 units during the quarter, with more brands like realme exploring the export market. There is positive momentum in domestic manufacturing and consumer demand, which is helping the tablet market to grow even during adverse market conditions.”
Jain further noted an increased preference for larger screen sizes, indicating that consumers are utilizing tablets for both media consumption and as productivity tools. “This strengthens the premiumization trend as consumers demand higher configurations and better displays. In Q1 2026, the market experienced a double-digit increase in ASP. While memory cost inflation also affected the prices, its impact was relatively limited in the quarter. The rising memory price impact is expected to become more evident from Q2 as brands increase prices to manage margin and cost pressure,” she added.
Brands including realme and OPPO have also expanded their domestic manufacturing capabilities in recent quarters, further contributing to the strengthening of the local production ecosystem. For more information on industry developments and the [latest tech appliance news](https://technosports.co.in/), visit TechnoSports.
