India’s smartphone market shipped about 70 million devices in the first half of 2025 with a 0.9 per cent year-over-year growth, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). According to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the second quarter of the year reported growth of 7.3 per cent year-over-year by shipping 37 million smartphones. In what can be called a notable shift in India’s smartphone market in the first half of the year, Samsung surpassed Apple in the super-premium segment, devices priced around $800 (about Rs 70,000 and above).
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According to IDC data, Samsung overtook Apple for the leadership position at 49 per cent and 48 per cent share, respectively. Overall, the super-premium segment grew by over 15.8 per cent, and its share remained stable at 7 per cent. The report revealed that iPhone 16, Galaxy S25/24 Ultra, S25, and iPhone 16 Plus were the key models.
Although narrow, Samsung’s lead marks a significant milestone, as this is the first time ever that the South Korean smartphone maker has surpassed Apple in the lead in India’s ultra-premium category. Based on the report, this growth was largely propelled by the remarkable sales of Samsung Galaxy models such as the S25/S24 Ultra and S25. On the other hand, Apple’s position was consolidated by the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models.
Even after falling behind Samsung in the segment overall, Apple’s iPhone 16 emerged as the single best-selling smartphone in India in the first half of 2025, accounting for four per cent of all shipments. This indicates that while Samsung got more super premium units collectively, individual consumers continued to favour iPhone 16. According to experts, this shows a competitive and evenly matched high-end market in India, which is also one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone regions. IDC data also shows that India’s overall market grew by a meagre one per cent year over year in the first half.
In simple words, the first half of the year saw Samsung take a slim but meaningful lead over Apple in India’s super-premium smartphone segment. Samsung’s performance is also being attributed to its Galaxy S25 lineup, introduced earlier this year, with advanced AI capabilities and sleek design, which seem to have resonated with consumers. On the other hand, iPhone 16’s strong showing suggests Apple’s continued appeal in the same segment.
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