Smartphone users may shift to alternative devices in coming quarters

With smartphone clients holding again on purchases in face of worth inflation, there’s a demand for complementary devices akin to tablets and laptops that analysts really feel may lead to a full-blown pattern in coming months of 2026

Cargo knowledge from the primary three months of the yr exhibits that smartphone gross sales dipped 5 per cent whereas different system markets like tablets grew 5 per cent. Equally, the laptop computer market delivered a “standout efficiency” in Q1 with 4.4 million shipments or 31.1 per cent on-year enhance, as per IDC.

Analysts talking to businessline mentioned that whereas general gross sales stay muted owing to the reminiscence value inflation, clients may change devices in coming quarters. Corporations confused by the smartphone dip additionally seem to be manipulating system options in direction of this finish.

“There’s a push from manufacturers in face of the value inflation. Pill specs are additionally altering to meet smartphone necessities just lately,” mentioned Faisal Kawoosa, Founding father of Techarc.

To Kawoosa’s level, tablets like Realme’s Pad 3 Lite (₹15,000) offers higher display screen show and battery life in contrast to the identical model’s Narzo90x (₹17,000) though the smartphone’s digicam high quality is superior.

Altering wants

Cargo dips in the course of the first quarter of any calendar yr are cyclical in nature. But, solely smartphones suffered the worst of it this yr. A part of it’s due to change in buyer necessities for devices like tablets and laptops, as per specialists.

“The market is seeing an elevated desire for bigger display screen sizes, as shoppers are utilizing tablets as each a media consumption system and a productiveness device. That is strengthening the premiumization pattern as shoppers demand larger configurations and higher shows. In Q1 2026, the market skilled a double-digit enhance in ASP. Although the reminiscence value inflation additionally affected the costs, its impression was comparatively restricted in the quarter,” mentioned Anshika Jain, Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Analysis.

Additional, value pressures and macroeconomic uncertainties have led some shoppers, notably in rising markets, to prolong smartphone substitute cycles whereas wanting to make investments in tablets with a bigger show that serve a number of functions, together with leisure, schooling, and productiveness.

“The extra outstanding pattern is the rising use of tablets as a complementary system slightly than a substitute for smartphones, whereas for some shoppers, serving as an reasonably priced alternative to laptops, contemplating the present value pressures and macroeconomic uncertainties,”mentioned Jain.

Equally, a research by Techarc acknowledged that users are shifting a few of their cell expectations to laptops: longer unplugged battery life, anytime-anywhere readiness, AI-assisted functioanlity and premium thin-and-light design. It estimated that 88 per cent laptop computer users agree their laptop computer expectations have been outlined by smartphone experiences.

“Regardless of persistent upward strain on PC costs due to rising element prices, notably DRAM and GPUs, shopper demand has remained resilient. With costs having elevated over the previous two quarters and anticipated to rise additional in the coming months, proactive and clear communication from distributors, companions, and channel stakeholders has inspired early buy selections, thereby serving to maintain general market demand,” Bharath Shenoy, Analysis Supervisor, Devices Analysis, IDC.

IDC expects cautious laptop computer gross sales in the second half of the yr in contrast to the primary half when beneficial provide allocations, aggressive channel stocking, and front-loaded procurement forward of anticipated worth hikes, supplied beneficial momentum for the laptop computer market.

Nevertheless, Shenoy identified that laptops too have observed a softness in the market since April.

“Normally, there’s back-to-school demand, which not there now as a result of clients need good gives throughout festive gross sales. So gross sales may carry ahead to Q3 once they count on higher offers,” mentioned Shenoy.

Regardless of these altering developments, Dhananjay Bhosale, a tech content material creator who evaluations devices, mentioned followers haven’t flagged any main shift in system preferences since it’s nonetheless simpler to discover a good smartphone over tablets or laptops.

“Bigger screens are most well-liked however not important sufficient to drive away smartphone demand,” mentioned Bhosale.

With the reminiscence demand racing forward of worldwide provide, each manufacturers and users proceed to regulate the levers in hand to tide them over the bloated costs.

Printed on June 7, 2026