India’s traditional PC market continued its robust growth during the first-quarter of 2025, growing 8.1 percent year-over-year to reach 3.3 million units shipped, IDC said in its report.
The latest data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker indicated that this marks the seventh consecutive quarter of growth for the sector, underscoring sustained demand across both consumer and commercial segments, though signs of inventory build-up are beginning to emerge as a potential headwind.
Growth Drivers and Segment Dynamics
The growth in Q1 2025 was led by a strong performance in notebooks, which surged 13.8 percent, and 30.4 percent growth in workstations — highlighting the needs of both individual and professional users. The desktop PC segment, however, continued to face challenges, declining 2.4 percent, with the commercial desktop category particularly impacted by a 27.4 percent drop in government demand.
A key highlight of the quarter was the continued rise in premium notebook shipments (priced above $1,000), which grew 8 percent, signaling resilience in higher-end consumer segments. Meanwhile, AI-powered notebooks, while still a niche category, witnessed 185.1 percent growth, albeit from a low base, reflecting the early-stage adoption of AI-centric devices in India.
Consumer and Commercial Trends
The consumer PC market rose by 8.9 percent, driven by Republic Day promotions, aggressive discounts, and a strong March-end shipment push by vendors to stock channels ahead of the fiscal year close. E-tail platforms continued their momentum, growing at 21.9 percent, supported by deepening penetration in smaller cities and competitive pricing strategies. Meanwhile, offline retail also played a crucial role, as vendors focused on enhancing accessibility through brand stores, large-format retail (LFR) outlets, and attractive cashback offers.
The commercial PC market grew 7.5 percent, primarily supported by enterprise demand for commercial notebooks, while the commercial desktop category contracted due to muted government spending. This mixed performance highlights the shifting preferences within enterprise IT infrastructure, with mobility gaining priority over fixed workstations.
Challenges Ahead
While the sustained growth trajectory paints a positive picture for India’s PC market, concerns over inventory build-up could cloud the near-term outlook. IDC’s Bharath Shenoy notes that although the shipment momentum remains strong, the increase in channel inventory could lead to potential corrections in subsequent quarters if sell-through does not match the supply pace.
Looking ahead, the Indian PC market’s resilience will hinge on balancing supply with actual demand, particularly as vendors navigate evolving consumer behaviors, macroeconomic factors, and the impact of new technologies such as AI notebooks. While Q1 2025 continues the sector’s winning streak, caution around inventory levels and demand sustainability will be critical in shaping the market’s trajectory for the rest of the year.
HP
With a 29.1 percent market share, HP Inc. continues to dominate the Indian PC market. HP strengthened its position in the commercial PC market, capturing 32.7 percent share, buoyed by 60.6 percent growth driven by enterprise demand. However, in the consumer PC market, HP took a cautious approach to correct inventory backlogs, leading to a 1.4 percent decline in shipments.
Lenovo
Lenovo claimed the second spot with 18.9 percent market share, up from 15.1 percent last year, demonstrating significant growth across both consumer (36.4 percent) and commercial (33.8 percent) PC segments. Lenovo’s robust enterprise and SMB sales coupled with continued retail and e-tail expansion boosted its performance.
Dell Technologies
At third place with a 15.6 percent market share, Dell Technologies focused on the commercial market, where it retained 22 percent share, especially in the enterprise segment. However, Dell’s strategy to clear consumer inventory saw it drop to sixth place in consumer shipments, even falling behind Apple.
Acer Group
Acer stood fourth with 15.4 percent market share, marking a 7.6 percent growth. The brand’s 95.5 percent growth in the consumer segment, aided by e-tailer push and offline presence, was offset by a 21.1 percent decline in the commercial segment, largely due to weaker government and education orders.
Asus
Asus rounded off the top five with 6 percent market share and an 8.6 percent growth. Asus benefitted from starting the quarter with low inventory and shipping higher volumes. Its push into the commercial segment showed promise, growing 41.1 percent, though from a small base.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
