Smartphone Surge India
Mumbai
India’s smartphone market surged to a five-year high in the third quarter of 2025 (Q3), growing 4.3 per cent year-over-year (YoY) to reach 48 million units, according to data released by the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Tuesday. The festive season and aggressive online promotions played a key role in boosting shipments across major brands.
Apple achieved its highest-ever quarterly shipments in India, crossing 5 million units for the first time and capturing the fourth spot in the market. The iPhone maker recorded a robust 25.6 per cent YoY growth, fueled by strong demand for both existing and newly launched models. The iPhone 16 emerged as the most-shipped smartphone in India during Q3, contributing 5 per cent of total market shipments. Meanwhile, the debut of the iPhone 17 series and the new iPhone Air accounted for 16 per cent of Apple’s total Q3 shipments — marking its strongest launch-quarter performance since 2021.
IDC data showed that the mid-premium segment (₹30,000–₹45,000 range) grew 10.7 per cent YoY, expanding its market share from 3 per cent to 4 per cent. Samsung reclaimed the top spot, followed by OPPO and OnePlus. The Galaxy S24 model alone contributed nearly one-quarter of total shipments in this price range, supported by aggressive discounting on major e-commerce platforms.
Strong festive promotions and flexible financing options drove Q3 shipment volumes. However, consumer demand remained concentrated in the premium segment, leaving the mass market under pressure and creating inventory challenges heading into Q4 2025, said Upasana Joshi, Senior Research Manager, Devices Research, IDC Asia Pacific.
Analysts noted that while the premium smartphone market continues to expand rapidly, the broader industry will need to balance inventory and affordability challenges to sustain growth into 2026.
