Chinese Android tablet makers like Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei are seeing explosive growth in their home market, but iPadOS 26 could widen Apple’s global lead. Here’s how China is playing catch-up, and why it matters.
Chinese Tablets Are Booming, Just Not Globally Yet
In 2025, Chinese tech giants are pushing hard into the tablet space, and the numbers show it. According to new data from Canalys, brands like Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei are posting staggering year-over-year shipment growth:
- Xiaomi: +42.3%
- Huawei: +29.2%
- Lenovo: +24.7%
While these brands are still behind Apple globally, they’re dominating domestically, largely thanks to aggressive pricing, Apple-style design mimicry, and government support through local subsidies.
The Power of the Domestic Market
One reason for this growth is simple: home-field advantage. Chinese consumers are increasingly buying local, especially when devices offer similar hardware to the iPad at nearly half the price. Additionally, state-backed programs and procurement deals for education and enterprise have helped boost shipments in mainland China.
The Redmi Pad 2, for example, looks nearly identical to an iPad Air and supports a stylus that mimics the Apple Pencil, yet it retails for less than $250.
Gaming Tablets Are Driving Demand
Gaming is another wildcard. Canalys notes that mobile gaming has become a key use case, especially in Asia. Brands are launching gaming-optimized tablets like the Redmi K Pad and Lenovo Legion Tab, targeting a niche that Apple has largely ignored.
“The market also benefited from a wave of new product launches, particularly in the gaming segment. Growing consumer interest in this use case has seen gaming tablets emerge as a niche growth category, especially in Asia.”
But iPadOS 26 Might Reset the Playing Field
Apple isn’t standing still. The upcoming iPadOS 26 update introduces major new multitasking and windowing features, effectively turning the iPad into a more Mac-like experience. That includes:
- True window resizing and overlapping
- Improved app switching and Stage Manager
- Enhanced file system support
This could widen the software experience gap between Apple and its competitors, especially in productivity and creative workflows, areas where Chinese tablets still lag.
China Wins at Home, Apple Wins Abroad
Even with explosive growth, Chinese brands have a long way to go globally. Combined, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Lenovo shipped just over 9 million tablets, compared to 14 million iPads in the same quarter, most of which were sold outside of China.
As Chinese brands keep winning their home turf, Apple is betting that a stronger OS experience will keep it ahead worldwide. The real battle is no longer just hardware, it’s software, ecosystems, and global trust.
Bottom Line
Chinese tablet makers are clearly shaking up the domestic market, but iPadOS 26 might make it harder than ever to catch up globally. The war for tablet dominance is just beginning, and the battlefield is both local and worldwide. Competing brands, no matter how fast they grow, might struggle to replicate.
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