In the first half of 2025, Apple officially secured a spot among India’s top-5 smartphone brands, according to IDC data, even as the broader market muddled along with only about 1% year-over-year growth.
Apple’s shipments rose 21.5% YoY to 5.9 million units during this period, powered by strong demand for the iPhone 16 series and others. While Apple didn’t dominate every segment, its growth was the fastest among the leading brands.
Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and other Android makers continue to lead in volume, but Apple’s gain in both price premium and presence in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities marked a deviation from past trends. Discounts, 24-month no-cost EMIs, and pushing older generation iPhones helped Apple’s capture.
The tepid market growth in 1H25 reflects longer replacement cycles and economic headwinds. Still, Apple’s performance demonstrates premium brands can find growth even when overall demand is slow.
