The affordable 5G smartphone shipments in India skyrocketed by over 1,900% in 2025 compared to the previous year. This surge was driven by competitive pricing, increased availability of entry-level 5G chipsets, and the expansion of the nationwide 5G network coverage, as per a report. India’s smartphone market witnessed a significant transformation in 2025, with a remarkable growth in affordable 5G devices alongside sustained premium demand.
5G smartphones constituted 88% of total shipments, marking a 12% increase year-on-year, highlighting the shift of 5G from a premium feature to a standard market offering. Apple experienced a 25% growth in India in the same period, capturing a 9% market share. Notably, the base model iPhone 16 accounted for 47% of the 16-series volumes, indicating a strong preference for the value-oriented base model over the Pro/Plus variants.
The year 2025 was characterized as a phase of recalibration rather than contraction for India’s smartphone market. Despite a slight softening in overall volumes, the market fundamentals remained robust. The rapid adoption of affordable 5G devices, sustained premium demand, and the emergence of challenger brands suggest an evolving market structure rather than a weakening one, according to Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst at CyberMedia Research (CMR).
Smartphones featuring 6.7-inch and larger displays constituted nearly 80% of shipments in 2025, solidifying the trend of large screens as the preferred choice among consumers. On the other hand, the feature phone market witnessed a decline, with 2G feature phones decreasing by 12% year-on-year and 4G feature phones dropping by 48%. MediaTek led the smartphone chipset market in India with a 45% share, while Qualcomm dominated the premium smartphone segment with a 34% share, as highlighted in the report.
Looking ahead to 2026, it is anticipated that elevated component and memory costs will exert pressure on pricing, potentially leading to more cautious purchasing behavior throughout the year. Consumers are not shying away from the smartphone market; instead, they are becoming more discerning, prolonging device lifecycles and upgrading only when they perceive a compelling value proposition, noted Pankaj Jadli, Analyst at CMR.
