Apple leads India’s smartphone market with record 23% growth in March quarter: IDC

Apple recorded the highest growth among India’s top five smartphone brands in the January–March quarter, clocking a 23 per cent year-on-year rise, according to data released by International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday. The tech giant shipped a record three million units in Q1 2025 — the highest-ever first-quarter shipment for the brand in the country. The iPhone 16 emerged as the most shipped model during the period, accounting for 4 per cent of India’s overall smartphone shipments.

Despite a slow start to the year with limited product launches in January and February, the market picked up pace in March. “New launches gained momentum across price segments, with intensified marketing activities aimed at driving demand,” said Aditya Rampal, Senior Market Analyst, Devices Research, IDC Asia Pacific.

The average selling price (ASP) for smartphones hit a new high of $274 during the quarter, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year increase.

Growth in the premium segment (priced between $600 and $800) was particularly notable — soaring by 78.6 per cent. This segment’s market share doubled from 2 per cent to 4 per cent, with the iPhone 16 alone contributing 32 per cent of total shipments in this range. The mid-premium segment ($400–$600) also surged, with its share rising from 3 per cent to 6 per cent, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A56.

Overall, India’s smartphone market saw 29 million 5G units shipped in Q1 2025. The share of 5G smartphones jumped to 88 per cent, compared to 69 per cent in Q1 2024. Interestingly, despite the rise in 5G adoption, the ASP for 5G devices dropped 11 per cent year-on-year to $300.

Affordable 5G devices continued to gain traction. Devices priced under $100 accounted for 7 per cent of total 5G shipments, while the $100–$200 segment remained dominant with a 45 per cent share.

On the chipset front, Qualcomm-based smartphone shipments grew 40.8 per cent year-on-year, capturing 31.8 per cent of the market, thanks to budget-friendly offerings like Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C. Meanwhile, MediaTek’s share fell to 43.6 per cent from 55.3 per cent, with a 25.5 per cent drop in shipments.

Looking ahead, IDC forecasts a low single-digit growth in overall smartphone shipments in 2025, though value growth is expected to stay in the mid-single digits, buoyed by rising ASPs.