skip to content

India Smartphone Market Grows Despite Shipment Drop In 4Q24

- Advertisement -

Despite a 4% shipment decline in Q4, India’s smartphone market grew by 5% in 2024. The fourth quarter marked an interesting shift; Apple jumped to the top five brands. What is in store for 2025?

Indian smartphone shipments dropped by 4% to 37.2 million units in Q4 2024, as vendors adjusted their inventory following the festive season, according to a recent report by Canalys. However, considering the entire year of 2024, India’s smartphone market saw a 5% growth, reaching 155.9 million units. This rise was driven mainly by the post-pandemic refresh cycle and the shift to 5G devices.

Source: Canalys

Among the brands, vivo retained its position at the top with 7.5 million units shipped, securing a 20% market share. Xiaomi followed closely in second place, shipping 5.7 million units, while Samsung took third with 5.4 million, although both faced a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 21% and 29%, respectively, in market share.

- Advertisement -

OPPO (excluding OnePlus) and Apple rounded out the top five, shipping 4.2 million and 4.0 million units respectively. Apple’s entry into the top five, with it share soaring 39% YoY marks a significant achievement, driven by strong promotional efforts and festive demand.

Source: Canalys

“In 2024, the competition in the ultra-premium segment has intensified amid aggressive launches from Android vendors. Consequently, Apple has been assertive with channel-driven promotions, particularly during competitors’ flagship launches, ahead of iPhone releases and festive seasons,” noted Sanyam Chaurasia, Senior Analyst at Canalys.

To this, Apple responded with channel-driven promotions, such as the “Buyback Program” and interest-free EMI options, which boosted consumer affordability and upgrades.

Chaurasia stated that Apple is expected to continue driving upgrades for its Pro series and expanding its reach in lower-tier cities, aiming to attract new iOS users.

Furthermore, despite weaker overall shipments in Q4, the premium segment saw sustained demand, particularly for Samsung and Apple’s previous-generation models. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 and S23 FE models performed well, and the iPhone 15 continued to attract strong consumer interest, aided by trade-in offers and extended warranties.

Looking ahead to 2025, the report forecasts modest single-digit growth for the Indian smartphone market. Growth will remain strong in the US$100 to US$200 price range, driven by 5G adoption. However, the sub-US$100 segment faces challenges, including economic pressures and increasing competition from 4G feature phones and the second-hand market.

Additionally, brands must focus on expanding their 5G offerings while managing these market uncertainties. The premium segment will face challenges from rising refurbished device popularity, and brands must optimise strategies to stimulate

- Advertisement -

Most Popular Articles

Shubha Mitra
Shubha Mitra
Shubha is a journalist at EFY. She is keenly interested in India's evolving electronics ecosystem. Her focus revolves around government policies, legislation, and public-private partnerships related to the industry.

Eastman, Urja Mobility To Power Electric Three-Wheelers

0
Integrating IoT and software solutions for enhanced mobility, Eastman Auto partners with Urja Mobility to supply batteries for electric three-wheelers in India. On Tuesday,...

ISRO, IIT Madras Unveil India’s Indigenous IRIS Chip

0
Powering India’s leap towards self-reliance in semiconductors for space and IoT systems under the RISC-V initiative, ISRO and IIT Madras have jointly launched IRIS...

Lam Research To Invest ₹100B In India

0
Aligning with government efforts to reduce import dependency, Lam Research is set to invest ₹100 billion in Bengaluru, India, for semiconductor manufacturing. Lam Research,...

BEL, Safran Partner To Boost India’s Defence Manufacturing

0
To locally produce cutting-edge HAMMER weapon systems, France's Safran Electronics join hands with BEL, expands manufacturing and R&D operations in Bengaluru. Defence PSU Bharat...

Delvitech Expands AI Innovation India

0
Focused on AI-powered AOI and SPI systems, the company is committed to driving innovation, optimizing production quality, and delivering world-class solutions tailored to the...
Khushal Panchal,  chief operating officer (COO), PCB Power

“We Differentiate Ourselves By Producing Radio Frequency PCBs For Wireless Communication Devices” – Khushal...

0
With technology and policy support, Indian PCB manufacturing is at a turning point. Can innovation and scale match global giants? PCB Power leads the...
Jayesh Ranjan IAS, Special Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce and ITE&C, Government Of Telangana

“To Compensate For Telangana’s Lack Of A Wet Port,Our Incentives Help ESDM And Semiconductor...

0
Despite logistics challenges, how is Telangana securing billion-dollar investments in electronics? Will the state unveil a new semiconductor policy soon? Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, from...
Shrinivas Kulkarni CFO, Cyient DLM

“Acquisitions That Help Address Gaps In Our Design Capabilities….. Interest Us” – Shrinivas Kulkarni,...

0
Over the past five years, Cyient DLM (formerly Rangsons Electronics), a subsidiary of Cyient Limited, has rapidly expanded its footprint in the design-led manufacturing...
Akshay-Kashyap-of-Greenfuel-Energy

“Many Companies Avoid Pack Testing And Validation Because It Is Time-Consuming” – Akshay Kashyap,...

0
Battery pack reliability goes beyond cell quality—it relies on precise engineering, thorough testing, and tailored thermal management. In a conversation with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey,...
Sambit Parida, CTO and Co-Founder of IG Drones

“If A Hacking Attempt Is Detected, The System Automatically Secures Or Erases Critical Data...

0
From handling defence-specific tasks with or without human intervention to withstanding extreme weather, how capable are drones? What if someone tries to hack sensitive...

Meridian Joins Altair’s Startup Programme To Boost UAV Tech

0
Eyeing to drive innovation in UAVs and hybrid power tech with simulation tools and expert support, Altair teams up with Meridian Flight Systems in...

Mitsubishi Electric Acquires Stake In Itanta Analytics Startup

0
Aiming to boost manufacturing digitalisation and efficiency with simplified automation solutions, Mitsubishi Electric India invests in Itanta Analytics to develop no-code data analysis tools....

Union Budget 2025-26: What It Has For The Electronics Sector?

0
With reduced and exempted duties, tax relief for manufacturing, and increased support for startups, this Budget addresses a broader range of issues within the...

IndiaAI Mission Expands To 18,693 GPUs For R&D

0
Aiming to support R&D and ethical AI, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the expansion of IndiaAI’s GPU infrastructure to 18,693 to benefit startups and...
Sambit Parida, CTO and Co-Founder of IG Drones

Innovative Drone Technologies from IG Drones Driving Efficiency Across Sectors

0
Haryana-based IG Drones develops advanced surveillance, agriculture, and defence technologies, focusing on improving adaptability and operational precision. Founded in 2018 by Om Prakash and Bodhisattwa...

Industry's Buzz

Learn From Leaders

Startups