With shifting dynamics in the Indian smartphone market, the year 2025 marks Apple’s entrance to the mainstream, as iPhone 16 tops India, selling 6.5 million units and beating cheaper Android phones.
India’s smartphone market has witnessed a rare shift. Apple’s iPhone 16 has emerged as the country’s best-selling smartphone, overtaking far cheaper Android rivals and signalling a sharp change in consumer behaviour. According to Counterpoint Research data cited in industry reports, Apple sold about 6.5 million iPhone 16 units in the first 11 months of 2025. On the other hand, vivo’s Y29 5G ranked second with 4.7 million shipments during the same period. The gap shows that the iPhone 16 costs more than three times as much as vivo’s budget device.
Apple’s strength does not stop there. The iPhone 15 also ranked among the top five best-selling smartphones this year. It launched at around ₹47,000, compared with vivo’s price tag of roughly ₹14,000. Premium handsets now occupy space once dominated by entry-level and mid-range models.
Furthermore, easy access to no-cost EMIs, cashbacks, and aggressive financing has widened Apple’s reach. Consumers are now willing to stretch spending for long-term ownership, reliability, and ecosystem value. The achievement is even more notable because the broader Indian smartphone market remains sluggish. Shipments in 2025 are expected to stay largely flat at about 158 million units, marking the fourth straight year of low growth.
Apple’s success also reflects a long-term strategic push. The company has expanded local manufacturing, reducing its dependence on China while deepening its focus on India. Retail presence has grown, too. Apple opened three new stores in Bengaluru, Pune, and Noida this year, bringing its total nationwide to five.
Together, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 accounted for about 8% of all smartphones sold in India until November 2025. The iPhone 16’s rise has seemed to move Apple from a niche luxury brand to a mainstream force.
