India PC shipments surpass pandemic peak as first-time users upgrade

India’s PC market had its strongest year on record in 2025, surpassing the surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of first-time buyers who purchased laptops during lockdowns began upgrading their devices.

Shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in India rose 10.

2% year-over-year to 15. 9 million units in 2025, according to analysts at IDC. The total marks the first time annual shipments have crossed the 15-million-unit milestone, surpassing the peaks seen in 2021 and 2022.

Pandemic-driven lockdowns exposed many people in India to PCs for the first time, expanding the country’s PC userbase and creating demand for upgrades as those devices age, Bharath Shenoy, a research manager at IDC, told TechCrunch.

Growing digitization, rising PC adoption among startups and small businesses, and wider availability of devices in smaller cities have also supported demand, he added. India’s share of global PC shipments rose to 5. 3% in 2020, IDC data shared with TechCrunch shows. Worldwide PC shipments grew 8. 7 million units in 2025, according to IDC’s earlier report. The South Asian nation remains one of the fastest-growing PC markets as demand expands beyond major cities.

Commercial buyers accounted for 52.

9% of PC shipments in India in 2025, while the consumer segment made up the remaining 47. Enterprise purchases were partly driven by a Windows refresh cycle last year, while many small and medium-sized businesses and some public sector organizations are now beginning to replace older devices, Shenoy told TechCrunch.

HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus were among the top PC vendors in India last year, IDC said.

However, Apple’s Mac computers hold a smaller share of India’s personal computer market than in the U. MacBooks accounted for about 5. 6% of India’s notebook market in 2025, compared with roughly 11% to 12% globally and around 20% in the U. MacBooks’ share of India’s notebook market peaked at 7.

4% in 2022, up from 3.

9% in 2020, IDC data shows.

About 85% to 87% of Mac shipments in India come from the consumer segment, Shenoy said, reflecting Apple’s limited presence in enterprise purchases.

The premium notebook segment — devices priced above $1,000 — grew 8.

2% year-over-year in 2025, indicating steady demand for higher-end devices.

Demand for Macs in India could see an uptick as Apple this week introduced its lower-priced MacBook Neo, while Windows notebooks are becoming more expensive, Shenoy said.

The Cupertino company is also focusing on expanding its presence in the commercial segment, which could help it gain market share, he added. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Artificial intelligence features are also beginning to appear in premium laptops, though they are not yet a major driver of PC demand in India, Shenoy said.

Many enterprises that previously bought premium notebooks are now opting for AI-enabled PCs as they come within the same budget range, while demand from content creators could also support adoption as digital media consumption rises, he added.

Despite the strong performance last year, the market could face headwinds in the near term as rising prices and component shortages weigh on demand, Shenoy also noted.

PC shipments in India could decline about 5% in 2026, compared with a low double-digit drop expected globally, he said.

India is still expected to perform better than many other markets because of its relatively low PC penetration and the scale of demand, Shenoy told TechCrunch.

PC penetration in the country is estimated at around 17% to 20%, leaving significant room for growth as digital adoption spreads across households and businesses.

The market could remain under pressure into 2027 before returning to growth as demand from businesses and consumers stabilizes, Shenoy said