India’s Smartphone Shipments to Rise 5% in 2025 Amid Strong 5G Growth: IDC

India’s smartphone market is set to grow by 5% in 2025, driven by rising demand for 5G devices and increased affordability, according to the latest report from the International Data Corporation (IDC). In 2024, smartphone shipments grew by 4% year-over-year (YoY), reaching 151 million units, with a strong first half offsetting a slowdown in the latter half of the year.

Despite a 3% decline in Q4 2024, India remained a key growth market, emerging as Apple’s fourth-largest globally. Apple shipped a record 12 million iPhones in India last year, achieving a 35% YoY growth and securing a place among the top five smartphone brands for the first time with a 10% market share. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 were the best-selling models, accounting for 6% of total shipments in Q4.

The 5G segment witnessed substantial growth, with 120 million 5G smartphones shipped in 2024, comprising 79% of total smartphone shipments—up from 55% in 2023. The mass-budget segment (₹8,000–₹16,000) saw a near doubling of 5G shipments, contributing to a decline in 5G average selling prices (ASPs) by 19% YoY to $303.

Vivo surpassed Samsung as the market leader in 2024, while brands like Nothing, Motorola, and iQOO recorded the highest growth. The entry-premium segment (₹16,000–₹33,000) saw a 35.3% YoY surge, while premium models (₹50,000–₹66,000) grew by 34.9%.

“Generative AI features will become key differentiators in 2025, expanding beyond flagship models,” said Navkendar Singh, Associate VP, IDC India. However, a weakening rupee may impact pricing, limiting overall market growth to around 5% this year.

Source: IDC