5G smartphones
A huge increase in reasonably priced 5G phones propelled India’s smartphone market’s 8% growth in Q2 2025. Xiaomi suffered from a precipitous drop in shipments, while Vivo dominated the market.
According to the most recent India Mobile Handset Market Review by CyberMedia Research (CMR), the country’s smartphone market expanded 8% year over year in the second quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in sales of high-end smartphones and a surge in demand for reasonably priced 5G devices.
87% of all shipments during the quarter were 5G devices, a 20% YoY increase. The remarkable 600% increase in devices priced between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 indicates a tremendous demand from consumers for cost-effective 5G choices.
Low-cost phones take center stage.
The market is now dominated by 5G smartphones, which account for 87% of all shipments, a 20% increase over the previous year. The actual surprise? The astounding 600% growth in phones priced between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 indicates that Indian consumers are eager for reasonably priced 5G options.
Apple and Samsung dominate the ₹50,000 premium market.
The market expanded 35% year over year in the super-premium (above ₹50,000) segment. With the iPhone 16e in the forefront, Apple’s market share shot up 54%, while Samsung also saw significant growth. Currently, Apple controls 7% of the market.
Conversely, OnePlus experienced a 21% decline in the premium market, despite the Nord series’ strong performance in the mid-range market.
Motorola, Xiaomi, and nothing stand out in the low-cost 5G
Realme and Xiaomi contributed to the widespread adoption of 5G, but Xiaomi’s overall shipments fell 25%, the most sharply of the top five brands. Thanks to the release of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, Motorola experienced remarkable 81% growth, while Nothing increased 190% (from a tiny base).
Chipset competition: Qualcomm vs. MediaTek
With a 46% market share, MediaTek was the market leader for chipsets overall. Qualcomm, however, held a 35% market share in phones costing more than ₹25,000.
Everyone is watching the holiday season.
CMR projects growth in the single digits for the remainder of 2025. Sales may increase as a result of the holiday season and impending flagship phone releases. Even if AI features are becoming more popular, performance, battery life, and camera are remain the top priorities for consumers.
