New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) India’s tablet market grew 15 per cent year‑on‑year in the first half of 2026, driven by strong premiumisation and steady demand across the consumer, education, and enterprise sectors, a report said on Thursday.

The report from CyberMedia Research (CMR) said premium tablets priced above Rs 20,000 grew 74 per cent YoY and accounted for 89 per cent of the market, indicating rising demand for stronger performance, larger displays and enhanced productivity.

Large‑screen tablets above 10 inches accounted for nearly 91 per cent of shipments, while Wi‑Fi tablet shipments grew 30 per cent, 5G tablets increased 8 per cent and 4G shipments fell 19 per cent, the report added.

Demand also shifted toward higher-performance configurations, with 6GB tablets growing 73 per cent and 12GB variants surging 422 per cent.

Apple strengthened its lead within the premium segment, with the Apple iPad 11 series alone accounting for nearly 23 per cent of premium tablet shipments in India.

“The Indian tablet landscape is maturing, marked by a decisive shift toward higher-spec devices. Rising component costs, alongside consumer preference for larger screens, increased RAM, and robust Wi-Fi connectivity, are pushing average selling prices higher,” said Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst, CyberMedia Research (CMR).

“Even as overall volume growth moderates, tablets remain deeply entrenched as companion devices for content creation, education, and enterprise productivity,” Kumari said.

The report forecasted the Indian tablet market to decline 10-12 per cent in CY2026, as higher component costs, memory supply constraints, and uncertainty around institutional procurement weigh on performance during the remainder of the year.

“Supply-side pressures, including rising component costs, memory shortages, and delays in institutional procurement, are expected to impact shipments in H2 2026, though premium devices and AI-ready hardware will continue to anchor market value,” Kumari added.

—IANS

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