US tech giant Apple has achieved a significant milestone in India’s smartphone production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, with iPhone exports exceeding $50 billion by December 2025. The company’s exports are expected to continue rising as there are still three months left in Apple’s five-year PLI window. In the first nine months of FY26 alone, iPhone exports reached nearly $16 billion, pushing the total shipments during the PLI period past the $50-billion mark.
Samsung, in comparison, exported devices worth approximately $17 billion during its five-year eligibility period under the scheme from FY21 to FY25. Apple’s manufacturing presence in India comprises five iPhone assembly plants, with three operated by Tata Group entities and two by Foxconn. This setup is supported by a supply chain involving around 45 companies, including numerous MSMEs supplying components for both domestic and global operations.
The surge in smartphone exports, primarily driven by iPhone shipments accounting for about 75% of total smartphone exports, has elevated smartphones to become India’s largest single export category in FY25. This is a significant shift from smartphones ranking 167th among export items in 2015. India has emerged as the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer, with over 99% of phones sold domestically now being Made in India, showcasing the country’s advancement in the manufacturing value chain.
The smartphone PLI scheme is set to conclude in March 2026, although there are reports suggesting that the government is exploring options to extend support. Under the revised regulations, companies were permitted to claim incentives for any five consecutive years within a six-year period. Apple’s suppliers and Samsung were also chosen under the electronics component manufacturing scheme, with Samsung planning to establish a display module sub-assembly unit that is expected to create job opportunities for approximately 300 individuals.
According to a recent report by Counterpoint Research, Apple sold around 6.5 million iPhone 16 units in the first 11 months of 2025, making it the highest-selling smartphone in the country. The report highlighted that Apple surpassed its Android competitors during this period, with the iPhone 15 also securing a position in the top five best-selling smartphones.
