(Yicai) Feb. 13 -- China’s tablet computer shipments rose 13.1 percent from a year earlier to 33.8 million units in 2025, driven by a device replacement cycle and the impact of the national subsidy policy, according to a report released today by International Data Corporation.

The growth underscores resilient consumer demand despite signs that the stimulus effect of subsidies is fading. In the fourth quarter alone, tablet shipments in China increased 7.2 percent from a year earlier, suggesting that as the national subsidy policy tightens in some regions, its boost to demand has weakened.

The consumer segment remained the main engine of growth, with annual shipments climbing 14.4 percent and showing a clear upgrade trend, IDC said. By contrast, the commercial market faced demand pressure, with full-year shipments slipping 1.6 percent as budget constraints continued to weigh on procurement.

Liu Yun, senior analyst at IDC China, said that while an expanding user base provides a solid foundation for device upgrades, rising costs are adding uncertainty to the market. Against this backdrop, it is particularly urgent for manufacturers to accelerate in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence and scenario-based upgrade paths, Liu said.

From a vendor perspective, Huawei Technologies led the market last year with a 29.2 percent share, down 3.1 percentage points from the previous year. Apple followed with 24.5 percent, a decline of 2 percentage points, while Xiaomi ranked third with 13.1 percent, up 0.4 percentage point.

In the fourth quarter, Apple took the top spot with a 26.7 percent share, down 0.8 percentage point year on year, followed by Huawei at 24.9 percent, down 2.9 percentage points, and Lenovo Group at 13.1 percent, up 4.9 percentage points.

Editor: Emmi Laine