AI may be the buzzword, but Indian home buyers still want value: Report

Amazon India's latest Best in Tech Survey shows that Indian consumers are increasingly choosing home technology based on practical benefits such as picture quality, energy efficiency and service

Artificial intelligence may be becoming a familiar part of consumer technology, but when Indians shop for products for their homes, it is not always the first thing they look for. Amazon India’s latest Best in Tech Survey shows that the priority depends heavily on the product being bought. For Smart TVs, picture quality remains the biggest consideration. For air conditioners and refrigerators, energy efficiency takes the lead. In washing machines, buyers put greater emphasis on inverter motors, although AI-powered wash programmes are emerging as a newer consideration.

The findings come from more than 40,000 responses across major consumer electronics categories, according to Amazon. They suggest that while consumers are becoming more comfortable with AI-powered features, they continue to evaluate home appliances on familiar measures such as performance, running costs, durability and ease of installation. The survey also highlights the growing importance of what happens after a product is purchased, with delivery and installation becoming an important part of the buying experience.

Smart TVs: picture quality remains the starting point

For Smart TV buyers, the most important consideration is still what they can see on the screen. About 66 per cent of respondents identify picture quality as the single most important feature influencing their purchase.

That focus on display quality becomes more pronounced at higher price points. Among TVs priced upwards of Rs 60,000, buyers are moving towards premium display technologies such as OLED and Mini LED/Neo QLED. Nearly eight in 10 Smart TV buyers surveyed prefer premium display technologies, including QLED, OLED and Mini LED/Neo QLED.