Why are Indians sceptical about buying MacBooks? A Deep Dive in 2024

Yes, a lot of people in India are still very sceptical about switching to MacBooks, even though they have become cheap. Apple has consistently slashed the prices of Macs in India, from the very affordable Mac Mini to the base-level MacBook Air M1.

If you had told me Macs would cost around Rs. 70k, I would have considered you mad. The landscape in India has taken a huge shift, and people are not hesitating to buy Apple products anymore.

However, I have seen a majority of students, office users, or casual people opting for Windows laptops over MacBooks. Yes, even though there’s not much difference in price between Macs and Windows laptops, people still seem to be too sceptical about opting for the Apple ecosystem.

Now, why is this so? In a country where Apple is commanding the premium smartphone segment, why are Indian people opting for Windows for Macs at the same price point? Here are some of the possible reasons:

Why are Indians sceptical about buying MacBooks?

Our familiarity with Windows since Childhood

With Windows being available in over 90% of PCs since our childhood, the default perception we have is that we are only habitual to the Windows OS and we can or do not need a new OS. From learning Windows Paint to various Microsoft apps like PowerPoint or Excel, we have been born and brought up with Windows as our daily driver.

Unlike macOS, Windows can still be used without activating, and I have seen people living with the “Activate Windows” prompt forever. So, in India, the penetration of a Windows PC has been severe since our childhood, making us believe that it is the ultimate OS for everything.

People, especially our dads or old people, do not want to take the hassle of switching to macOS and learning new stuff. Even a lot of lazy students prefer Windows due to some phobia that Windows laptops run better, so a wide range of people are using it.

Overall, the familiarity with Windows amongst Indians is one of the key reasons people are sceptical about switching to MacBooks. I remember recommending a lot of guys and girls Macs, but they chose not to get one because of this very reason.

Limited availability of macOS

Creative people know how useful and straightforward macOS has been over Windows; however, Apple never distributed its OS unless it’s its device. So, as in India, MacBooks, which until now were no less than a luxury, never got into the hands of common people.

In a country where the average ticket value of a PC or laptop is in the range of Rs. 20k–30k, affording a MacBook was a huge deal. So, people never got used to macOS, and so by default, they had this perception of Windows being the best option.

Android <-> Windows Synergy

It’s no secret that Indians love Android phones, and the majority of people in India use these as their daily drivers. As we all know, Microsoft, which could not make the Windows OS for mobile, eventually tied in with Google to bring a lot of cross-mobile features to Windows.

This eventually helped most Indian users with their Android phones to utilize these features on their Windows laptops for their daily household stuff. However, Apple is trying to break this synergy by pushing iPhones to Indians and eventually bringing you into the Apple ecosystem sooner or later.

Limited Gaming Capabilities

MacBooks aren’t traditionally considered “gaming laptops” due to their focus on design and portability rather than high-performance graphics cards. This could be a limitation for gamers who prioritize powerful hardware for their needs; however, in recent times, with Apple’s silicon and the inclusion of dedicated GPU cores, the performance has improved drastically.

Though Apple is far behind the likes of NVIDIA or AMD in terms of gaming performance, Apple is pushing the envelope by bringing support for games like Resident Evil Village to Macs.

Repair and Servicing

While Apple has improved its service network in India, concerns may persist about accessibility and the cost of repairs compared to more widely available Windows laptops and their service options. Apple’s servicing fee at original stores or repair centres is quite high compared to Windows laptops.

Also, because of the limited 1-year warranty and the high cost of extending Apple Care+, people do not have the same peace of mind they have on Windows laptops that now give up to 2 years of onsite warranty, along with the easy option of extending that further.

No Jailbreaking or Piracy

Apple’s security policies have always been very stringent, and installing third-party apps has always been difficult. Also, not everyone can afford to buy all the software, and that’s why people tend to go for a Windows laptop. So, Apple needs to make its apps and services more affordable, especially for students.

Ultimately, the decision to buy a MacBook depends on individual needs, budget, and priorities. While there might be some scepticism due to the factors mentioned above, it’s not universal, and the trend is shifting towards wider acceptance in the Indian market. However, if Apple addresses these issues somehow, the chances of Mac adoption can increase drastically in the coming years.

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