iPhone’s Dominance Rises in India; Record Market Share Despite a Stagnant Market

Staff Report: PNN

iPhone’s popularity is growing rapidly in India’s smartphone market. Data from a market research firm shows that Apple supplied approximately 14 million iPhones in India in 2025, marking the company’s highest achievement in the country so far.

Overall, India’s smartphone market remains relatively stagnant, with total supply estimated at around 152 to 153 million units for the entire year. Even so, iPhone’s market share has increased to a record 9%, up from 7% the previous year, strengthening Apple’s position in the world’s second-largest smartphone market.

Analysts attribute this growth to Apple’s rich product lineup, increasing brand appeal, and the availability of iPhones through both online and offline sales channels. Analysts say Apple has benefited directly from the growing demand for premium smartphones among Indian consumers.

Recently, Apple executives have emphasized the importance of the Indian market. The company stated that both its revenue and the number of active iPhone users in India have surpassed all previous records. Apple is focusing on upgrading existing users in addition to acquiring new customers.

Apart from sales, Apple is also expanding its presence locally. It is increasing local production and retail expansion. The company recently opened a new Apple Store in Noida, which is its fifth store in India.

Apple has also adopted a specific pricing strategy for India. Recently, it launched a new subscription service offering creative app usage at a lower cost, much more affordable than in the U.S., aiming to bring more users under Apple services.

Meanwhile, the overall smartphone market’s growth is hindered by longer phone replacement cycles, slower transitions from feature phones to smartphones, and the growing popularity of refurbished phones. Even during the festive season, supply to the market was lower compared to the previous year.

However, the premium smartphone market continues to grow. Phones priced above a certain threshold are selling significantly more, making up about one-fourth of the total market. This benefits premium brands.

Although Apple achieved record growth in 2025, it still is not among the top three in India’s market by volume. Android brands such as Vivo, Samsung, and Xiaomi lead in terms of volume. Analysts believe that if the demand for premium phones continues to grow, Apple’s position could further strengthen in the future.