India’s smartphone market grew 5% year-over-year in shipments and 18% in value during Q3 2025, reaching its highest-ever quarterly value, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple made history by entering the top five brands by volume.
Table of Contents
Q3 2025 Market Overview
| Metric | Q3 2025 | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Shipment Growth | 38 million units | +5% |
| Value Growth | Record high | +18% |
| Premium Segment | >₹30,000 phones | +29% |
| Average Selling Price | — | +13% |
| Apple Volume Share | 9% | Top 5 entry |
Apple’s Historic Top 5 Entry
Apple entered the top five by volume in Q3 2025, with India emerging as the third-largest iPhone market globally. Strong demand for iPhone 16 and 15 series, combined with festive deals and attractive trade-in offers, drove this milestone achievement.
Apple led the market with a 28% revenue share, demonstrating the brand’s premium positioning despite capturing just 9% of unit volumes. This disparity highlights how Apple dominates value while competitors focus on volume.
Premium Segment Drives Growth
The premium segment was the fastest-growing category, with 29% YoY shipment growth as more consumers moved toward higher-value devices. This premiumization trend lifted overall market value by 18% YoY, with average selling prices rising 13%.
For gaming and tech enthusiasts, this shift toward premium devices means better performance hardware becoming mainstream.
Brand Performance Highlights
Vivo maintained leadership with 20% volume share, driven by its strong offline network and successful T-series midrange lineup. Samsung secured second place with 13% share, though it declined from 16% year-earlier.
iQOO emerged as the fastest-growing brand of the quarter in terms of volume with 54% YoY growth, while Motorola recorded 53% YoY shipment growth in Q3 2025, powered by G and Edge series demand.
Lava became the fastest-growing brand in the sub-INR 10,000 price segment with 135% YoY shipment growth, capturing budget-conscious buyers.
Chipset Market Dynamics
MediaTek dominated with 46% market share, followed by Qualcomm at 29%. This duopoly reflects ongoing competition to capture India’s rapidly expanding 5G smartphone market.
Easy financing options, EMI schemes, and softer interest rates fueled upgrade-driven demand during the festive quarter. OPPO’s revenue share declined from 11% in Q3 2024 to 9% in Q3 2025, but it is gaining traction with a volume-driven strategy, showing a 13% volume share.
Learn more at Counterpoint Research.
FAQs
Which brand leads India’s smartphone market in Q3 2025?
Vivo leads with 20% volume share, followed by Samsung at 13% and OPPO at 13%.
What drove India’s smartphone market growth in Q3 2025?
Premium segment growth (29% YoY), festive demand, easy financing, and aggressive discounts drove the market’s record value.
