The interest in Android smartphones in India has significantly dropped recently, while Apple continues to experience impressive growth year after year. Indian consumers are increasingly turning away from Android devices, resulting in an overall smartphone sales decline of about 10 percent. Despite the launch of various mid-range and flagship models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in January, demand for smartphones remains quite low. Conversely, there has been a clear trend towards iPhones, enabling Apple to achieve remarkable growth during this time.
Apple’s market position
According to a report from research firm IDC in January 2025, India saw shipments of 11.1 million smartphones, reflecting a 9.7 percent decrease compared to January 2024. The decline in smartphone demand began in the last quarter of 2024. Nevertheless, overall smartphone shipments in India experienced a slight growth of 4 percent last year.
The IDC report showcases Apple’s notable growth of 11.7 percent in January. Consumers are increasingly choosing iPhones over Android devices, and while Apple’s market share is still smaller than that of Android brands, India is rapidly becoming one of Apple’s key markets, second only to China. In fact, Apple has positioned itself among the top five smartphone brands in India during the last quarter of the year.
Advantages of Make in India
In line with Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India initiative, smartphone manufacturers have redirected their efforts towards local production. All models of Apple’s latest iPhone 16 series will be manufactured in India for both local consumption and export. In contrast, most Android brands, with the exception of Oppo, have reported negative growth. Oppo, on the other hand, saw a 5.3 percent increase in sales in January 2025.
Apple has recently introduced the iPhone 16e in India, taking the place of the iPhone SE 4. With a starting price of Rs 59,900, this model is designed to be the most budget-friendly option from the company. Additionally, Apple is offering appealing bank promotions for this new device, which is likely to boost its demand considerably.
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