• Source:JND
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India’s smartphone market shipped roughly 70 million units in the first half of 2025, up about 0.9% year over year, according to IDC. The April–June quarter did the heavy lifting with 37 million shipments, a 7.3% annual rise, signalling steady demand despite a broadly flat first half.

A first for Samsung at the very top end

In a notable shift within the super-premium tier (around $800 and above), Samsung nudged past Apple for the first time in India. IDC pegs Samsung’s share at 49% versus Apple’s 48%. The segment itself expanded 15.8% and continued to account for 7% of the overall market, underscoring resilient demand for high-end devices.

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Flagships that moved the needle

Momentum came from Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, S24 Ultra and S25, while Apple’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus anchored its volumes. The result: a slim but meaningful lead for Samsung in cumulative super-premium shipments—its first-ever overtake of Apple in India at this price band.

iPhone 16 tops individual models

Even with Samsung’s category lead, Apple scored the single best-selling device of H1 2025: the iPhone 16 accounted for 4% of all smartphones shipped. That split—Samsung winning aggregate units at the top end while iPhone 16 leads as a lone model—highlights how finely balanced India’s high-end market has become.

 

Market pulse

IDC’s tracker points to a broadly stable first half, with overall growth hovering around 1% year on year. The super-premium tussle suggests a two-brand duel at the top, powered by camera upgrades, design refinements and new AI features that appear to be resonating with Indian buyers.