India’s smartphone market experienced a relatively flat year in 2025, as revealed by a new report from the International Data Corporation (IDC). Overall, 152 million smartphone units were shipped across the country. Vivo emerged as the market leader, with Samsung and Oppo closely following. Interestingly, Apple dominated the premium and mid-premium segments, solidifying India’s position as its fourth-largest global market. The report also highlighted a dip in Xiaomi’s market share, creating an opening for brands such as Realme, Motorola, and iQOO to expand their presence.
Xiaomi and OnePlus Witness Significant Market Share Drops in 2025
According to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, the Indian smartphone market concluded 2025 with a minimal 0.5 percent year-over-year increase, reaching a total of 152 million units. The year began slowly but saw a recovery in the second and third quarters. However, the final quarter of 2025 witnessed a 5 percent year-over-year decline in shipments, totaling 34 million units. This dip was attributed to typical post-festive inventory adjustments and a more cautious approach to spending from consumers.
The report further emphasized India’s growing importance to Apple, making it the company’s fourth-largest global market in 2025, trailing only the US, China, and Japan. Apple successfully shipped 14 million units in India, demonstrating a robust 16 percent annual growth. While ranking fifth in overall market share at 9.5 percent, Apple commanded a substantial 29 percent share by value within the Indian market during the same period.
This impressive growth for Apple was largely fueled by strong sales of the iPhone 16, which contributed 4 percent to India’s total smartphone shipments for the year.
Vivo successfully maintained its leadership in the Indian smartphone market, securing a 19.3 percent share. Samsung followed with 14.1 percent, and Oppo took the third spot with 13.3 percent. Despite a 9.5 percent drop in shipments, Realme secured fourth place, while Apple completed the top five.
In contrast, brands such as OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Poco experienced significant declines in market share last year, with sales plummeting by 38.8 percent, 29.3 percent, and 24.8 percent, respectively. This market shift allowed companies like Realme, Motorola, and iQOO to strategically reinforce their positions.
Rising Consumer Preference for Premium Smartphones in India
IDC’s analysis indicates a robust 18 percent year-over-year growth in the entry-level smartphone segment (devices priced under $100 or approximately Rs. 9,000), which now accounts for 16 percent of the market. Xiaomi and Vivo were key players in this growth, with Motorola showing the most rapid expansion.
Conversely, the mass budget segment (priced between $100 and $200, or roughly Rs. 10,000–20,000) saw an 8 percent year-over-year decline, reducing its market share from 44 percent to 41 percent. Despite the overall contraction, Vivo, Oppo, and Motorola managed to increase their share within this category, driven by popular models.
The entry-premium segment (smartphones costing $200–$400, or approximately Rs. 20,000–Rs. 36,000) also experienced a 5 percent year-over-year dip. However, Vivo, Samsung, and Motorola still saw gains, with the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion being a top performer in this price bracket for 2025.
In a more positive trend, the mid-premium segment (priced $400–$600, or about Rs. 36,000–Rs. 54,000) expanded by an impressive 23 percent year-over-year. Apple led this segment, supported by Samsung and Oppo. Popular devices like the iPhone 13, Oppo Reno 13 Pro, Galaxy A56, and Galaxy S24 were instrumental in this growth.
The premium segment (smartphones priced $600–$800, or approximately Rs. 54,000–Rs. 75,000) saw substantial growth of 37 percent year-over-year. Apple’s dominance here was undeniable, capturing a 74 percent share, driven by strong sales of the iPhone 16, iPhone 15, and iPhone 17 models.
Finally, the super-premium segment (devices costing $800 and above) saw a 7 percent year-over-year surge. Apple remained the frontrunner with a 63 percent share, but Samsung also achieved notable growth with its Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra shipments.
Looking forward, IDC predicts a downturn in sales volumes for 2026. Upasana Joshi, Senior Research Manager for Devices Research at IDC Asia Pacific, commented, “Despite the challenging, stagnant shipment figures in 2025, India’s smartphone market impressively achieved a 9 percent year-over-year value growth. However, we anticipate a contraction in volumes for 2026, largely due to an unprecedented global memory shortage.”
Joshi further explained that recent price hikes within the Android ecosystem indicate a trend toward market consolidation, where larger manufacturers will have a crucial advantage in securing supply chains and controlling pricing.