Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 8: India’s smartphone market is projected to record moderate, single-digit growth in 2025, maintaining steady momentum powered by the rapid expansion of 5G, increasing consumer appetite for premium devices, and the growing trend of connected digital ecosystems, according to a new report by CyberMedia Research (CMR).

The report revealed that smartphone shipments in India grew by 7 percent year-on-year in Q3 2025, driven by festive-season demand, accelerated 5G adoption, and a strong push in the premium category led by Apple, Vivo, and Motorola. By value, Apple commanded the largest share of the market at 30 percent, followed by Samsung with 22 percent. Vivo dominated the 5G smartphone segment with an 18 percent share, while Samsung followed at 16 percent.

CMR analysts noted that festive and year-end sales are expected to further boost shipments, with flagship models from Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus acting as key growth drivers. 5G smartphones made up 89 percent of total shipments during the quarter—a 16 percent increase year-on-year. Notably, affordable 5G phones priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 surged by an astonishing 1,600 percent, highlighting the rising demand for low-cost 5G options.

Experts said the democratisation of 5G technology, particularly in the sub-Rs 10,000 range, is reshaping consumer upgrade patterns and fueling the next phase of smartphone growth in India. Aggressive promotions, festive discounts, and easy EMI options have further encouraged consumers to upgrade from feature phones to smartphones, strengthening the value-for-money and budget 5G segments.

While premium smartphones continue to enjoy double-digit growth, feature phones are rapidly losing ground. The report noted that in Q3 2025, 2G feature phone shipments declined by 14 percent year-on-year, while 4G feature phones saw an even steeper 24 percent drop, signaling a decisive shift in India’s mobile landscape toward 5G-enabled devices.