In a remarkable turn of events, India's PC market experienced its most successful year in 2025, surpassing the demand peaks witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge is largely attributed to millions of first-time buyers who, having purchased laptops during lockdowns, are now seeking to upgrade their devices.
According to IDC analysts, shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in India rose by 10.2% year-over-year, reaching a total of 15.9 million units in 2025. This milestone marks the first time annual shipments have exceeded 15 million units, eclipsing the highs recorded in 2021 and 2022.
Bharath Shenoy, a research manager at IDC, noted that the pandemic-induced lockdowns introduced many Indians to PCs, thereby expanding the user base and creating a demand for upgrades as older devices become outdated. The increasing digitization, along with a rise in PC adoption among startups and small businesses, has further fueled this demand, especially in smaller cities.
India's share of global PC shipments climbed to 5.6% in 2025, up from 3.3% in 2020. Globally, PC shipments grew by 8.1%, totaling 284.7 million units in 2025. The South Asian nation continues to be one of the fastest-growing PC markets, with demand increasingly extending beyond major urban centers.
Commercial purchases accounted for 52.9% of PC shipments in India, while consumer sales represented 47.1%. The enterprise segment saw a boost from a Windows refresh cycle last year, with many small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as some public sector organizations, beginning to replace outdated devices.
Leading vendors in the Indian PC market included HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus. Interestingly, Apple's Mac computers maintain a smaller market share in India compared to the U.S., with MacBooks making up about 5.6% of the notebook market in 2025, compared to approximately 11-12% globally and around 20% in the U.S.
Despite a peak market share of 7.4% in 2022, the MacBooks' presence reflects Apple's limited engagement in enterprise purchases, with about 85-87% of shipments coming from the consumer segment. The premium notebook sector, defined as devices priced above $1,000, grew by 8.2% year-over-year in 2025, indicating a robust demand for high-end products.
With the recent launch of the more affordable MacBook Neo, demand for Macs in India may rise, particularly as Windows laptops become pricier. Apple is also intensifying efforts to enhance its presence in the commercial market, which could bolster its market share.
Artificial intelligence features are gradually making their way into premium laptops, although they currently do not significantly influence PC demand in India. Enterprises that previously invested in high-end notebooks are now leaning towards AI-enabled PCs, which fit within similar budget ranges.
Looking ahead, while the market showed strong performance in 2025, potential challenges such as rising prices and component shortages could impact demand. Nonetheless, India is expected to outperform many other markets due to its low PC penetration rate, estimated at around 17-20%, leaving ample room for growth as digital adoption continues to expand.
