IDC has released its Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker for Q3 2025. As per the report, the global tablet shipments dropped by 4.4 percent year-on-year in the following quarter, with a total of 38 million units shipped. The market had earlier reported constant growth in the last six quarters and now appears to be cooling.
Global tablet shipments dropped by 4.4% YoY in Q3 2025
IDC’s report notes that the tablet market’s sharp rise in demand over the past year is now coming to a pause. The tracker places much of the blame on elevated stock already sitting in warehouses. They were carried over from earlier in 2025 when manufacturers built up inventory ahead of potential tariffs and global trade tensions.
Another reason for the market decline is said to be the extended replacement cycles. Users who have grabbed the devices already are now waiting longer than expected to upgrade or replace their tablets.
Apple leads the chart with a positive growth rate
However, the report also reveals that not all segments are weak. The growth of emerging markets, such as those from educational institutes and government programs, remains intact.
Talking about the brand-wise performance, Apple led the chart by delivering 13.2 million devices, with a 5.2 percent increase YoY. Samsung followed with 6.9 million units but saw a 1.9 percent drop. Lenovo grabbed the third spot with 3.7 million units shipped, up 22.6 percent year-on-year, while Huawei and Xiaomi posted growth of 3.7 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively. In a nutshell, all the brands in the top 5, except Samsung, noticed a rise in their shipments.
IDC senior research analyst Anuroopa Nataraj says, “Tablets are drifting away from volume-driven growth toward value-driven refresh cycles. The market’s next phase will likely be led by mid-premium devices, especially those built for productivity and features. OEMs also need to adapt to longer replacement cycles.”
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