Gurugram/New Delhi, March 13, 2026: India’s consumer storage market is regaining momentum, powered by strong demand for USB flash drives. According to CyberMedia Research’s (CMR) India Consumer Storage Flash Devices Market Review Report for Q4 2025, USB flash drive shipments surged 19% year-on-year (YoY), capturing a commanding 64% market share and emerging as the primary growth engine of the consumer storage market.
Overall, India’s consumer storage market—comprising MicroSD cards, SD cards, and USB flash drives—grew 5% YoY in Q4 2025, despite a 15% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline, reflecting seasonal shipment cycles and inventory normalization.
According to Mukesh Sharma, Senior Analyst, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR. ““USB pen drives are clearly driving the revival of India’s consumer storage market. The shift toward Type-C interfaces and faster USB standards is reinforcing their relevance for everyday portability, even as rising memory prices linked to AI-driven supply constraints push up ASPs. Meanwhile, MicroSD and SD cards are increasingly moving toward niche applications such as surveillance, drones, and professional imaging.”
Segment Snapshots
- MicroSD Card: MicroSD card shipments grew 40% QoQ, with demand increasingly driven by niche applications such as drones, action cameras, dashcams, and surveillance devices—moving beyond their traditional reliance on smartphones.
- USB Flash Drives: Growth in USB flash drives was fueled by the rapid shift toward Type-C interfaces (+76% YoY) and the mainstream adoption of USB 3.2 devices (3x YoY growth).
- SD Card: SD card shipments declined 35% QoQ, reflecting the reduced dependence on removable storage in everyday consumer devices..
Market Leaderboard:
- Pen Drives:
SanDisk led the segment with a commanding 55% market share in Q4 2025, followed by Lexar with 15% share. - MicroSD Cards:
SanDisk continued to dominate with 33% market share, while Samsung ranked second with 13% share. - Camera Storage Market:
SanDisk remained the preferred choice among camera users with a 64% market share, followed by Lexar at 17%.
Future Outlook
CMR estimates point to India’s consumer storage market to grow at a steady 6–8% annually in CY2026.
According to Bhaskar Negi, Analyst – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR), “India’s consumer storage market will continue its upward trajectory, supported by AI-enabled devices, richer digital content, and evolving device ecosystems. USB pen drives will lead market expansion with 15–20% growth, driven by Type-C adoption and higher-speed interfaces. MicroSD cards are expected to contract by 10–13%, reflecting structural shifts in smartphone storage. Meanwhile, SD cards will remain resilient, growing 2–3%, supported by sustained demand from professional imaging and surveillance ecosystems. Consumer choices will increasingly center on speed, reliability, and hybrid storage flexibility.”
