According to GSM Arena, India’s smartphone market grew 5% in volume but a much stronger 18% in value during Q3 2025 compared to the same period last year. The premium segment above ₹30,000 exploded with 29% year-over-year growth, largely driven by Apple and Samsung flagships. Apple broke into the top five by volume for the first time ever, capturing 9% of shipments but a massive 28% of the market’s total value. Samsung followed with 23% value share, while Vivo led volume shipments but ranked third in value. iQOO was the fastest-growing brand by volume at 54% growth, and MediaTek dominated the chipset market with 46% share.
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The Premiumization Payoff
Here’s what’s really interesting – India’s smartphone market isn’t just growing, it’s fundamentally changing. That 18% value growth compared to just 5% volume growth tells you everything. People aren’t just buying more phones – they’re buying better phones. The premium segment above ₹30,000 grew nearly six times faster than the overall market. Basically, India’s middle class is finally willing to spend serious money on smartphones, and Apple’s timing couldn’t be better.
Apple’s Calculated Move
Breaking into India’s top five has been Apple’s holy grail for years. They’ve been playing the long game – local manufacturing, aggressive financing options, and building out their retail presence. And now it’s paying off spectacularly. Think about this: Apple holds just 9% of volume but 28% of the value. That’s insane profitability. They’re basically vacuuming up nearly a third of all the money spent on smartphones in India while selling relatively few units compared to volume leaders.
The Real Battleground
While everyone’s watching Apple’s premium push, the mid-range is where the real volume war is happening. Vivo’s T-series success shows there’s still massive demand in that sweet spot between budget and premium. And look at Motorola’s 53% growth – they’re quietly having a comeback moment with their G and Edge series. But here’s the thing: when premium grows this fast, everyone benefits. The entire market gets pulled upward as consumers start expecting better features and build quality across all price points.
What Comes Next?
So where does this leave us? MediaTek’s 46% chipset dominance suggests the value-for-money segment remains crucial, even as premium grows. But Apple cracking the top five changes everything. It proves that India isn’t just a budget market anymore. The question now is whether Samsung can maintain its premium positioning against Apple’s onslaught, and whether Chinese brands can move upmarket fast enough. One thing’s for sure – the days of treating India as an emerging market for cheap phones are officially over.
