5G Smartphones Fuel India’s Market Growth
India’s smartphone market is witnessing a strong revival. According to the latest CyberMedia Research (CMR) report, India’s smartphone market grew 7% in Q3 2025, marking a solid year-on-year recovery. The surge came on the back of festive season sales, rapid 5G adoption, and premium smartphone demand from brands like Vivo, Samsung, and Apple.
The report highlights that 5G smartphones dominate India’s smartphone market, accounting for 89% of total shipments, up 16% YoY. What surprised analysts was the explosive growth in the budget 5G segment—phones priced between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000 grew by an astounding 1600%. The findings suggest that 5G is no longer restricted to premium buyers; affordable 5G devices have reached the mass market.
Vivo took the lead with an 18% share in the 5G category, followed by Samsung at 16%. Analysts say this trend reflects India’s ongoing digital transformation and the rapid democratization of high-speed connectivity.
Vivo Leads India’s Smartphone Market
The India smartphone market growth in Q3 2025 was also shaped by brand-specific performances. Vivo continued its strong run, emerging as the market leader with an 18% overall share. The success of its Y and T series models played a significant role, accounting for nearly half of its 5G shipments.
Samsung followed with a 15% share, maintaining its leadership in the premium and ultra-premium segments through its Galaxy S and Z Fold series. OPPO and Xiaomi both recorded 13% market shares, though Xiaomi faced challenges due to fewer launches and weaker offline presence.
For the first time, Apple entered India’s top five smartphone brands with a 9% share, driven by strong demand for older iPhone 15 and 16 models. This milestone underscores Apple’s growing appeal among Indian consumers, especially in metropolitan and Tier-2 cities.
Apple Dominates in Value, India Embraces Premium Phones
In value terms, Apple led India’s smartphone market with a commanding 30% market share, followed by Samsung at 22%. This indicates a major shift toward premiumisation, with more Indian consumers opting for high-end devices.
Phones priced above ₹50,000 grew 45% YoY, while ultra-premium models above ₹1 lakh saw an incredible 280% growth. Samsung posted a 151% jump in its ultra-premium lineup, driven by the success of its foldables and flagship Galaxy devices.
OPPO grew 8% YoY with its revamped K and A series, balancing affordability with features, while Motorola posted a stunning 57% YoY rise due to its affordable 5G portfolio and strong offline expansion.
Among Indian brands, Lava stood out as a comeback story, growing 114% in the sub-₹10,000 5G category.
MediaTek and Qualcomm Power India’s Smartphones
The report also revealed key trends in the chipset market. MediaTek led the Indian smartphone segment with a 44% share, driven by its wide presence in mid-range and budget 5G phones. Qualcomm, on the other hand, maintained dominance in the premium smartphone category, holding a 36% market share.
As brands introduce more devices powered by AI-enabled processors, both chipmakers are expected to play a vital role in India’s growing 5G ecosystem.
Feature Phones Fade, Smartphones Take Over
Feature phones continued to decline, with shipments dropping 14% YoY. While Itel (42%) and Lava (29%) remain the leaders in the 2G space, their sales are steadily falling. This reflects India’s accelerating transition toward smartphones, even in rural markets.
CMR predicts that India’s smartphone market will continue single-digit growth through 2025, driven by 5G upgrades, festive sales, and premium demand.
Festive Season and Premium Demand to Drive 2025 Growth
Analysts at CMR believe that the upcoming year-end festive sales will push shipments further, especially for flagship devices from Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus.
“Democratisation of 5G connectivity, especially in the sub-₹10,000 segment, is reshaping upgrade trends,” said Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst at CMR. She added that attractive offers, EMIs, and online discounts have boosted adoption across both urban and rural India.
Pankaj Jadli, another CMR analyst, noted, “India’s smartphone market is firmly in the growth phase. Festive sales and consumer confidence will continue driving demand for premium and ultra-premium models.”
With these trends, 2025 is shaping up to be another milestone year for India’s smartphone market growth, as 5G becomes mainstream and premium devices gain record traction.
