Xiaomi, OnePlus only OEMs to decline even as India’s tablet market surges 37% in 1Q26: CMR
Shipments in India’s tablet PC market grew by 37% year-on-year in the January-March quarter of 2026, enabled by rising demand from education and enterprise segments, and government institutional purchases, according to the latest report released by CyberMedia Research (CMR) on Tuesday.
South Korean Samsung led the market with a 38% volume share in Q1 2026, as its shipments rose by 54% annually, followed by Apple with a 30% share and a 95% year-on-year surge in shipments, while Lenovo took the third rank with a 16% share on the back of a 15% year-on-year growth in shipments, as per CMR data.
Xiaomi and OnePlus stood in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with a 9% and a 2% share.
However, OnePlus and Xiaomi were the only brands that saw a sharp fall in shipments even as their rivals and the broader market grew. OnePlus’s shipments declined 42%, and Xiaomi slid by 19% in the first quarter of 2026, as per the data.
The research firm attributed Apple’s strong performance to the iPad 11 series, which accounted for nearly 24% of overall India tablet shipments, while the newly launched iPad Air 2026 series contributed an additional 3-4% share.
Menka Kumari, senior analyst (industry intelligence group) at CMR, said, “India’s tablet market is undergoing a clear premiumisation cycle, driven by the convergence of digital learning, hybrid work, and rising demand for productivity-focused devices.”
The strong growth of premium tablets and higher-memory configurations indicates that consumers and institutions are increasingly prioritising performance, longevity, and ecosystem value over entry-level affordability, Kumari added.
Wi-Fi tablets recorded a robust 92% growth, led by education deployments and home-learning demand. 5G tablets declined 1%, reflecting a slight shift toward Wi-Fi-first usage, said CMR.
However, CMR has forecasted the Indian tablet market to decline at 10-12% in CY2026.
“Looking ahead, the India tablet market is expected to face near-term pressure from component cost inflation, memory shortages, and cautious institutional spending cycles. However, the long-term fundamentals remain strong,” Kumari said, adding that premium and AI-ready tablets are expected to remain key growth drivers.
