Online electronics demand in India rises 25 per cent as shoppers chase deals

MUMBAI: India’s online electronics market is getting busier, and shoppers are getting savvier about where their money goes. Online electronics orders in the country rose 25 per cent year on year in 2026, with consumers also spending more and increasingly looking for cashback, coupons and promotional deals.

The findings come from affiliate network Admitad, which analysed more than 200,000 online electronics purchases in India to track how buying behaviour has changed over the past year and a half.

The analysis found that total sales value increased 27 per cent, while the average order value rose from $95 to $101. This suggests that the growth is being driven not only by a higher frequency of purchases but also by consumers spending more per transaction.

Smartphones and tablets continue to strengthen their position as the preferred route for online electronics shopping.

The share of electronics orders placed through mobile devices increased from 58 per cent to 61 per cent in 2026. The shift builds on the rapid adoption of mobile shopping seen during the pandemic and points to a growing dependence on smartphones for product discovery and purchases.

Shopping activity also varies sharply through the day. Around 38 per cent of electronics orders were placed between 12 pm and 6 pm, making working hours the busiest period for online purchases.

Another 32 per cent of orders came between 6 pm and midnight, while 20 per cent were placed between 6 am and noon. Overnight shopping accounted for just 10 per cent of orders.

Electronics shopping continues to follow a strong seasonal pattern in India.

September, October and November were the strongest months for the sector in 2025, with online order volumes during the period running 50 to 60 per cent above the monthly average.

February and July were the weakest months, reflecting seasonal demand patterns and the absence of major electronics-focused sales events.

In 2026, January and May have emerged as strong months so far, with order growth of 37 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. Admitad expects momentum to accelerate over the coming three months, setting the stage for a stronger autumn sales period.

For electronics brands and marketplaces, discounts are no longer simply an add-on to the shopping experience. They are increasingly influencing which brands consumers choose.

According to Admitad, more than 30 per cent of shoppers opted to purchase from a particular brand after seeing a cashback offer. The importance of cashback nearly doubled in 2026, pointing to a growing focus among consumers on extracting greater value from online purchases.

Coupons and promotional codes are another significant driver. More than 15 per cent of online electronics orders were attributed to attractive coupon or promo-code offers, with their importance increasing 35 per cent during the year.

Contextual advertising also contributed to sales, accounting for another 14 per cent of purchases by targeting users already showing interest in specific products.

Content platforms and social media remain important customer acquisition channels, accounting for 10 per cent of electronics orders.

Affiliate stores contributed another 5 per cent of purchases, while messaging platforms are emerging as a newer route to sales.

Telegram alone accounted for more than 5 per cent of electronics sales in India, according to Admitad, highlighting the growing role of messaging-led commerce.

Mobile advertising is also gaining effectiveness. The share of orders attributed to mobile ads increased from 4 per cent to 6 per cent during the year.

Admitad expects online electronics order volumes in India to increase by 28 to 30 per cent by the end of 2026.

The continued migration from offline to online shopping and rising mobile adoption are expected to remain the key growth engines. For retailers, the findings point towards a market where simply having products online may no longer be enough.

Coupon and cashback partnerships, collaborations with content platforms, personalised promotional codes and targeted contextual advertising are emerging as important tools for capturing demand, particularly during the autumn sales season.

With consumers becoming more deal-conscious while spending more on electronics, India’s online electronics market appears to be entering a phase where the right offer can be just as important as the right product.