India’s smartphone market recorded a seven per cent year-on-year growth in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest report by a market research firm. The rise was driven by strong festive season sales, growing 5G adoption, and increased demand for premium smartphones from brands such as Vivo, Samsung, and Apple.
The report highlighted that 5G smartphones now dominate India’s market, accounting for 89 per cent of total shipments, up 16 per cent compared to last year. The budget 5G segment saw exceptional growth, with phones priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 rising by 1600 per cent, marking the arrival of ultra-affordable 5G devices. Vivo led the 5G segment with an 18 per cent share, followed by Samsung with 16 per cent.
“Democratisation of 5G connectivity, especially in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, is reshaping upgrade trends,” said Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst at the firm. She added that strong promotions and easy EMI options helped drive sales in both rural and urban areas.
Vivo leads, Apple breaks into top five
Vivo continued to lead the overall smartphone market with an 18 per cent share, supported by the success of its Y and T series models. Samsung followed with 15 per cent, while OPPO and Xiaomi captured 13 per cent each. For the first time, Apple entered the top five with a nine per cent share, boosted by the strong performance of the iPhone 15 and 16 series.
In terms of value, Apple dominated India’s market with a 30 per cent share, followed by Samsung at 22 per cent. The premium smartphone category grew 45 per cent year-on-year for devices priced above Rs 50,000, while ultra-premium models above Rs 1 lakh surged 280 per cent.
Brand performance and market trends
Samsung achieved 151 per cent growth in the ultra-premium category, driven by the Galaxy S and Z series. OPPO grew eight per cent year-on-year with its K and A series, while Xiaomi saw an 18 per cent decline due to fewer launches and weaker offline presence. Motorola rose 57 per cent, supported by its 5G portfolio, and Lava became a local success with 114 per cent growth in sub-Rs 10,000 5G phones.
MediaTek led the chipset market with a 44 per cent share, while Qualcomm remained dominant in the premium category with 36 per cent. Feature phone shipments continued to fall, down 14 per cent year-on-year, as users rapidly shifted to smartphones.
The report expects India’s smartphone market to continue its steady growth through 2025, supported by 5G upgrades and the increasing popularity of premium devices. “The festive and year-end sales will accelerate shipments, with premium and uber-premium models from Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus remaining key growth engines,” said Pankaj Jadli, Analyst at the firm.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
