Healthy Commercial Growth Keeps India Tablet Market Stable in Q2 2017 Despite Declining Consumer Segment

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The latest IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker reveals 722 thousand tablets were shipped in India in Q2 2017 with a marginal growth of 2.9% from the previous quarter, primarily contributed by the healthy growth in the commercial segment. In contrast, tablets shipments in the consumer segment witnessed a decline of 13.8% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in Q2 2017, resulting in a steep 26.8% year-on-year(YoY) drop in the total shipments.

The implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) inhibited the growth of tablet shipments in the consumer segment. “Uncertainty about the levy of the new tax structure, restricted the stocking of inventory and in turn leading to limited sell-in of tablets in the country,” says Celso Gomes, Associate Market Analyst, Client Devices, IDC India.

“Digital projects across Government and Education sectors are the key driving verticals for the growth of the commercial sector.Vendors have arrayed their portfolios and shifting their focus to target these verticals to remain relevant in the category,” adds Gomes.

Company Highlights:

Lenovo captured the top position in the overall tablet market with 21.8% market share as shipment grew 12.6% over previous quarter. Lenovo also continues to dominate the India tablet commercial segment, as over 80% of its shipments in Q2 2017 was primarily driven by specific commercial projects delivered to government, education and very large enterprises.

Samsung slipped to second place but maintained the shipments volume of the previous quarter. Its stability was driven by gaining share in the commercial segment especially Goverment and enterprise verticals despite losing volume in the consumer segment.

Datawind declines to third position as its market share dropped by two percentage points and shipments declined by 9.4% from the previous quarter. Datawind continues to witness slowdown as its major focus remains on the declining consumer segment. Howerver it still remains leader in the Sub US$50 segment.

iBall locks fourth place as shipments witnessed a decline of 9 percent sequentially in Q2 2017. With major vendors focusing on the commercial segment, iBall is also anticipated to gain traction in the commercial segment in the coming quarters as it has started venturing intro commericial projects especially in the Government sector.

Apple: Apple continues to remain at fifth position with a healthy 49.6% QoQ growth, but it witnessed a year-on-year decline of 17.3% in Q2 2017. The growth was primarily driven by a refreshed product portfolio (particularly iPad 2017) in the lower price band of below $500 segment.

IDC India Forecast

“Shipments of the consumer segment is expected to be better in the second half of the year recovering from two-quarters of consecutive decline as the market prepares for upcoming festival season,” says Jaipal Singh, Senior Market Analyst, IDC India. “However vendors will continue to focus on commercial deals to channelize the digitalization wave in the country,” adds Singh.

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International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and Events Company.