3 weeks ago
Coders drive GPU laptop demand in India's premium PC market
Computers need special parts called GPUs to do certain jobs.
Long ago, GPUs were mostly used for playing video games.
Today, people who write computer code also want GPUs because these chips help run smart AI programs.
A company called Acer makes these laptops, and many students and programmers in India are buying them.
India has more than a million students learning computer science.
Acer has become the second-biggest computer seller in India.
Right now, memory chips are hard to find and expensive, which makes laptops cost more.
Many people pay for new laptops in small monthly payments called EMIs.
Acer India executive G S Sondhi says coders and developers are increasingly buying GPU-based laptops to run LLMs, generative AI applications, and AI agents.
Acer became India's second-largest PC brand with a 21.3 per cent market share in Q1 2026, overtaking Lenovo and Dell, according to research firm IDC.
A global memory chip shortage driven by AI data-centre expansion has pushed memory costs above CPU costs and raised PC prices.
Acer has grown roughly 30 per cent year-on-year for the past three years, helped by a 5,50,000-unit order from the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu.
About 50 per cent of premium-segment laptop purchases in India are made through EMIs, according to Sondhi.
- Who
- G S Sondhi, Senior Director of Product Management at Acer India, speaking to Indian Express; buyers include coders, developers, students, and government agencies.
- What
- Demand for GPU-based laptops is growing as coders use them for AI workloads, and Acer has risen to become India's second-largest PC brand amid a global memory chip shortage.
- Where
- India.
- When
- Market-share data covers Q1 2026; the interview reflects current market conditions.
- Why
- Coders need GPUs to run LLMs, generative AI applications, and AI agents, while AI-driven data-centre growth has caused a memory chip shortage that is reshaping PC pricing.
Key facts
- Acer India market share
- 21.3 per cent in Q1 2026, second-largest PC brand (IDC)
- Annual engineering graduates in India
- Roughly 1.5 million, with over 1 million in computer science
- PC market price segments
- Entry-level Rs 30,000-45,000; upgraded Rs 60,000-70,000; premium Rs 80,000+
- Tamil Nadu government order
- 5,50,000 units from Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu
- Acer growth rate
- Roughly 30 per cent year-on-year for the past three years
- Memory price inflation
- Rate of increase slowed from 20-30 per cent to about 5 per cent
- EMI share of premium purchases
- 50 per cent
- Canara Bank order
- Nearly 10,000 units
Quotes
G S Sondhi
Senior Director, Product Management Group, Acer India
“"But nowadays, people are buying these laptops because coding has become much easier. They can run LLMs, generative AI applications, and AI agents."”
indianexpress.com
“"Cashbacks and EMI offers are also driving PC sales, especially in the premium segment, where 50 per cent of purchases are made through EMIs."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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