iPhone 16 helps Apple grow as Indian smartphone market declines again

iPhone 16 has helped Apple stay ahead of the curve amid Indian smartphone market declines for the second year in a row in Q1.

The Indian smartphone market is often regarded as one of the fastest-growing markets around the world, with huge demand for smartphones. However, latest reports suggest that the Indian smartphone market has dropped by 5.5% year on year in Q1 of 2025, with a total of 32 million smartphones shipped, making a second consecutive low year.

Planning to get the iPhone 16 series? Know if it's worth the upgrade considering your current device. (Bloomberg)

By Shaurya Sharma

Shaurya Sharma is the Technology Editor at Hindustan Times Digital Streams, where he oversees technology coverage across digital and social platforms. With over eight years of experience across editorial, video production, and digital media, his work focuses on smartphones, AI, consumer gadgets, and shaping audience-first content strategies for modern tech consumers.

He began his career in 2018 as a fashion cinematographer before turning his lifelong passion for technology into a profession. From spending his childhood immersed in tech magazines, video games, and the latest gadgets to covering the global consumer tech industry today, technology has remained a constant throughout his journey.

Over the years, Shaurya has worked with some of India’s leading media organisations, including CNN-News18, Sportskeeda, and Guiding Tech, where he led video initiatives that combined strong editorial storytelling with engaging visual and social-first execution.

A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Manipal University, Shaurya has reviewed hundreds of products across categories including smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, cameras, and wearables. Beyond work, he is passionate about animal welfare, environmental causes, and automobiles, particularly turbo-petrol cars

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Despite this decline in numbers, one brand that stood tall was Apple, despite offering premium smartphones. While the overall market declined in Q1 2025, Apple experienced growth.

Among the top five brands, Apple shipped 3 million units in the first quarter of 2025. Among these, the iPhone 16 figured as the most popular model, accounting for 4% of India's overall shipments.

Here's how various brands performed in terms of market share, according to IDC

Vivo, for instance, had a market share of 16.2% in the first quarter of 2024, but in the first quarter of 2025, it has a 19.7% market share, which is a growth of 14.6%. Samsung had a 15.6% market share in Q1 2024, and now in Q1 2025, it has a 16.4% market share.

Xiaomi had a 12.8% market share back in Q1 2024, but now has a 7.8% market share, which is a big drop. OnePlus had a 5.1% market share and now has a 2.4% market share, which is also a drop. Apple had a 7.3% market share and now has a 9.5% market share. Oppo had a 10.2% market share in Q1 2024 and now has a 12% market share.

Key highlights from the first quarter

IDC says that a total of 29 million 5G phones were shipped. This has increased the shipments of 5G phones, which have increased to 88% from 69% in the first quarter of 2024.

The report also says that the mass budget segment, which is between US $100 and US $200, declined by 21.9% year over year. On the contrary, the premium segment, which is between US $600 and US $800, jumped. This represented a growth of 78.6%.