New Delhi, November 13, 2025 – Apple has achieved a significant milestone in India's burgeoning smartphone market, shipping a record-breaking 5 million units in the third quarter of 2025. This performance propelled the company to the fourth position among smartphone brands in the country for the first time. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), this surge represents a 25.6% year-over-year growth for Apple, driven by robust demand for both its latest and existing iPhone models.
The star of Apple's success story is the iPhone 16, which emerged as the most-shipped smartphone in India during the quarter, contributing 5% of the total market shipments. The newly launched iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air also made a strong debut, accounting for 16% of Apple's Q3 shipments. This marks the strongest launch-quarter performance for any iPhone since 2021.
India's smartphone market witnessed a 4.3% year-over-year growth in Q3 2025, reaching a five-year high with 48 million units shipped. This growth was primarily fueled by the increasing demand for premium smartphones, supported by both new releases and attractive deals on previous-generation models. The offline channel also saw significant growth, with shipments rising by 21.8% year-over-year and expanding its market share to 56.4%.
However, the overall momentum was partially offset by weaker demand for entry-level Android smartphones and rising average selling prices (ASPs), indicating a continued shift towards higher-value segments. The average selling price of smartphones surged to a record $294 in Q3 2025, a 13.7% year-over-year increase. While the entry-level segment (sub-$100) experienced a strong growth of 35.3%, the mass-budget segment ($100-$200) saw a decline of 8.8%.
In the super-premium segment (US$800 and above), Apple regained the leadership position from Samsung, capturing 66% of the market share. Key models driving this segment included the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold7. However, Samsung continues to lead the mid-premium segment (US$400–US$600).
While Apple's performance is commendable, the overall smartphone market in India faces challenges. Rising component costs and currency fluctuations have led brands to increase prices after the Diwali festival season. IDC forecasts a year-on-year shipment decline in Q4 2025, potentially leading to total annual shipments falling below 150 million units.
Vivo has emerged as the top smartphone vendor with 18.3% market share, followed by Oppo at 13.9%. Samsung now holds the third position with a 12.6% market share.
Despite these challenges, Apple's record-breaking performance in Q3 2025 underscores its growing influence in the Indian smartphone market. The company's focus on premium devices and strategic partnerships have resonated with Indian consumers, paving the way for further growth in the years to come.
