India’s PC Market Grew in 2024, But It Wasn’t Business as Usual
The real driver of growth wasn’t everyday users upgrading their personal laptops.
If you walked into an electronics store in 2024, chances are you weren’t surrounded by people eagerly buying new laptops. It wasn’t a year of mass consumer upgrades or flashy new trends taking over overnight.
But somehow, India’s PC market still grew by 3.8%. The real story? It wasn’t the everyday shopper driving this—it was businesses, government orders, and a quiet but steady shift toward smarter, more purpose-driven purchases.
The commercial sector was the real MVP, growing by 5.1% as enterprises refreshed their ageing office setups and government agencies' bulk-ordered devices through the GeM platform. Meanwhile, the consumer segment grew at a slower 2.6%, but online shopping was a bright spot with eTailer sales surging by 21.7%. Discount-driven events and year-end sales played their part, proving once again that a good deal can still pull people in.
Another trend that stood out was the rise of AI-powered and gaming laptops. While premium notebooks saw a healthy 13.8% increase, gaming machines were the real highlight, registering double-digit growth. And though AI-powered PCs are still in their early days, mid-range models featuring Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI chips started gaining traction—hinting at what could become a mainstream category sooner than expected.
When it came to brands, HP led the market with a 30.1% share, though it faced increasing competition in the consumer space. Lenovo followed with 17.2%, maintaining steady growth across both personal and business segments. Dell, sitting at 16.1%, remained strong in the commercial market but slipped in the consumer category.
The biggest mover, however, was Acer. With aggressive discounts and an e-commerce-first approach, Acer grew an impressive 27.7% overall and a staggering 48.4% in the consumer segment. Asus, on the other hand, took a more cautious approach, focusing on inventory management rather than chasing rapid growth.
Looking ahead, the industry is bracing for a wave of device replacements as businesses look to upgrade systems bought in 2020-21. That should keep the commercial segment strong, but a weakening rupee could push up prices, making it harder for small businesses and budget-conscious consumers to upgrade. Still, with AI, gaming, and evolving buying patterns reshaping the landscape, 2025 is shaping up to be anything but predictable.
