Apple cashes in as Indians splurge on pricey phones
Mobile phone sales across the country expanded during the quarter ending in September, with unit volumes rising 5 percent from the prior year while total spending climbed 18 percent to establish a new record for quarterly market value. Research from Counterpoint points to holiday season purchasing, promotional pricing and growing appetite for higher-priced handsets as factors behind the expansion.
Devices priced above 30,000 rupees recorded the sharpest gains with shipments jumping 29 percent compared with the year-earlier period. Apple captured 28 percent of premium segment revenue through brisk sales of its iPhone 16 and 15 models, while Samsung held 23 percent with its Galaxy lineup and foldable devices. The California-based manufacturer ranked among the nation’s five largest handset brands by volume for the first time, making the country its third-biggest market globally for iPhone shipments.
Vivo led overall shipments with 20 percent market share through its extensive retail network, followed by Samsung at 13 percent. Prachir Singh, a senior analyst at the research firm, attributed strength to improved household finances and lower borrowing costs that encouraged device upgrades.
