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New Delhi: India’s smartphone market recorded its highest sales in the past five years during the third quarter of 2025, driven by strong iPhone sales and the festive shopping season.
Although Chinese brands like Vivo and Oppo led in overall unit sales, Apple became the star of the quarter, selling a record 5 million iPhones in India for the first time. This surge also boosted the average selling price of smartphones.
Data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that total smartphone shipments reached 48 million units, marking a 4.3% increase compared to Q3 2024. The festive season’s growth was attributed to attractive pricing, heavy discounts, and easy payment options. However, demand remained weak in the lower segment (₹9,000–₹18,000) and entry-premium Android segment (₹18,000–₹36,000).
Top Performers
IDC noted that the rise was primarily driven by premium smartphone demand, including both new launches and previous year models. The mass market segment is under pressure, and inventory buildup may lead to slower sales in Q4. Senior Research Manager Upasana Joshi highlighted that rising memory component costs and currency fluctuations could push companies to increase prices in the near future.
Apple is also investing to expand its production and market share in India, according to CEO Tim Cook. Apple has overtaken Realme in market share, positioning itself behind Vivo, Oppo, and Samsung as the fourth-largest smartphone brand in India.
iPhone 16 Leads the Market
The iPhone 16 became India’s top-selling smartphone in Q3 2025, accounting for 5% of total shipments. Apart from Apple, Motorola was the only other brand to significantly increase its market share, reaching 8.3% during the quarter.
This performance underscores a shift in the Indian smartphone market, where premium devices are driving growth even as lower-priced segments struggle.
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