According to new data from Canalys, Apple ranked sixth in India’s smartphone market during the second quarter of the year. The overall smartphone market in India experienced a rebound, showing a 7% year-over-year growth with a total of 39 million units shipped. Driven by the release of the iPhone 16 series, Apple’s performance saw significant improvement, with these devices accounting for over 55% of the company’s shipments in this quarter.
Consumers have shown a strong interest in upgrading to the latest flagships. However, older models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 also continued to attract buyers, particularly at more affordable price points. Despite the positive attention on the iPhone 16 series, Apple’s new entry-level model, the iPhone 16e, has faced challenges since its launch in February.
Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia noted that potential consumers had reservations about the phone’s single-camera design and the lack of fulfillment of Apple’s promises regarding its Intelligence features, which negatively affected its appeal in the market. In the competitive landscape, beyond Samsung, Chinese brands dominate the Indian smartphone market. Vivo led the charge with a 21% market share and impressive 31% growth.
Samsung followed with a 16% share, while OPPO and Xiaomi tied for third with 13% each. Realme completed the top five with a 9% share. Canalys anticipates a modest decline in the market for the full year due to a general lack of consumer interest in upgrading prior to the festival season in India, which typically sees heightened promotional activities.
In light of its mixed sales performance, Apple is also expanding its retail presence in India, opening new stores in Mumbai and New Delhi last year. Meanwhile, the company is increasing exports from India to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China, with smartphones emerging as the country’s leading export to the United States.
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