iPhone maker Apple is fast gaining ground in India’s non-smartphone segments, with its MacBooks and iPads projected to drive a revenue surge this year, driven by strong student and enterprise demand, aggressive retail expansion and heavy discounts on older models.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is projected to clock nearly $1.78 billion in combined Mac and iPad revenue in 2025, a 38 percent growth from the previous year, exclusive IDC data accessed by Moneycontrol shows.
Apple’s laptop (MacBooks) and PC (Macs) revenues alone will cross the $1-billion mark this year.
MacBook revenue is on track to surpass $1.36 billion, up from $932 million in 2024, while iPad sales will likely grow from $359 million to $414 million.
Canalys offers similar projections, pegging MacBook revenues at $1.01 billion and iPad at $361 million, indicating a broad consensus among analysts on Apple’s momentum in the Indian PC and tablet market.
Canalys also shared its findings exclusively with Moneycontrol.
“With Macs, Apple went aggressive on discounts and offers targeting students. They shipped their older-generation M1-powered MacBooks at heavily discounted prices,” Bharath Shenoy, principal analyst at IDC India, said.
Apple is performing well in the PC category, and its continued push for older-generation MacBooks is driving some volume, he said.
In the tablet market, the iPad is facing stiffer competition from Samsung and other vendors. However, it holds an edge in the premium space, Shenoy said.
The surge is reflected in unit shipments. IDC estimates Apple shipped 663,000 Mac units (23.3 percent YoY growth) and 628,000 iPads (12.3 percent) in 2024.
Canalys numbers are slightly higher — 776,000 Mac units (28 percent YoY growth) and 705,000 iPads (5 percent).
According to Counterpoint, Apple’s non-iPhone categories, including Mac, iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch, are expected to see a 19–21 percent YoY growth in revenue in 2025.
Enterprises, Tier 3 markets power MacBook demand
“MacBooks and Macs are seeing strong growth, fuelled by AI-ready M-series chips, which have become the standard for developers, creators, and enterprise users handling AI workloads,” said Ashweej Aithal, market research analyst at Canalys.
Premium financing options such as zero-interest EMIs and programmes like “iPhone for Life” have been extended to MacBooks, driving penetration in tier 3 and 4 cities, making these premium devices more accessible.
Enterprise demand for Macs is growing steadily, with startups and IT firms increasingly adopting Apple’s ecosystem for its performance, reliability, and seamless integration, analysts said.
“In the enterprise segment, Apple is getting some traction among new-age startups and a few large IT enterprises,” Shenoy said.
iPads ride hybrid work wave; students key target
On the tablet front, Aithal said high-performance models like iPad Air (M2) and Pro (M4) are leading growth, supported by 5G and AI capabilities.
“The continued expansion of hybrid work and digital learning has solidified iPads as the go-to devices for professionals, students, and educators alike,” he said.
Apple’s “Back to School 2025” campaign is also playing a pivotal role. “It’s big and the most focused space as of now,” said Aithal.
The company is offering students free AirPods or Apple Pencil with eligible purchases, along with 24-month no-cost EMIs and exclusive pricing, making devices more attractive to students segment.
“Students make up a significant portion of the consumer segment,” said Shenoy. “Apple has been consistently focusing on them with freebies, fancy cashbacks, and credit card schemes. iPads work well for students doing e-learning, Google Meet, and master classes—they’re powerful enough, support external keyboards, and a stylus for note-taking.”
Omni-channel strategy paying off
Apple’s combination of retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and financing schemes is helping it boost its market expansion.
The company is expected to go aggressive during the upcoming festival and e-commerce sales, especially for older-generation devices.
“With four new Apple stores coming up, and growing traction in offline channels too, along with e-tail, Apple has been focusing hard to increase its presence in the Indian market and make a space for itself,” Shenoy said.
Apple’s ecosystem approach is proving to be a significant advantage for the company in India, Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint, said.
“As iPhone sales grow, consumers tend to buy other Apple products due to the seamless continuity and user experience. Other factors like health focus, premiumisation, financing, and Apple’s aspirational image continue to work in its favour,” Pathak added.
Despite rising sales, Apple continues to manufacture its PCs and tablets in Vietnam but may be exploring local production in India.
On July 8, 2024, Moneycontrol reported that Apple was re-evaluating plans to manufacture iPads in India, encouraged by government efforts to localise supply chains. It is actively exploring possibilities with existing partners, such as Foxconn.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
