Hear Ye, Hear Ye! The 5G Revolution in India
5G Budget Smartphones Garner 100% Growth in India; Apple Continues to Dominate Premium Market
India's smartphone market is abuzz with a dramatic switch to 5G, fueled by budget-friendly devices, according to a fresh report by CyberMedia Research (CMR). In the first quarter of 2025, a staggering 86% of Indian smartphone shipments were 5G, marking a 14% annual increase!
Notably, 5G smartphones priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 13,000 were the real game-changers, notching over 100% year-on-year growth! These affordable 5G choices have ignited an unquenchable thirst for fast connections among masses.
Leading this 5G invasions are heavyweights - Vivo and Samsung. Vivo stakes its claim on a 21% market share, while Samsung follows closely on its heels with a 19% share. It's quite the tug-of-war!
The premium segment of smartphones is also riding the 5G wave, boosted by soaring demand for AI-equipped, 5G-enabled devices. Menka Kumari, senior analyst at CMR, colours the picture with optimism, saying, "The Rs 10,000 and under 5G smartphone segment saw over 500% YoY growth in Q1 2025! This is rocket fuel for the appetite for affordable 5G smartphones!"
The affordable smartphone segment saw a modest 3% YoY growth, while the value-for-money segment took a 6% dip, signaling a clear shift towards premium smartphones.
Apple's leap was no less impressive, posting a 25% year-on-year growth and capturing an 8% market share. The iPhone 16 series, notably the budget-friendly iPhone 16e, played a significant role in this success. In the super-premium and uber-premium segments, Apple notched a 28% YoY rise and a 15% surge, respectively.
CMR predicts a modest growth for the Indian smartphone market in 2025, with shipments projected to grow in single digits. Prabhu Ram, VP at CyberMedia Research (CMR), envisions the near future as a convergence of three powerful forces: the mainstreaming of affordable 5G, an onslaught of on-device AI, and a rapid localization of supply chains in India.
In the race for the top spot, brands that fail to adapt beyond price-based competition in the value-for-money segment might feel the heat of margin and relevance pressures. The road ahead promises fiercer competition - with the growing demand for affordable 5G and geopolitical shifts pushing local manufacturing, India is poised to become a major player and crucial node in the global smartphone value chain. So buckle up, folks! The race has just begun!
The 5G revolution in India accelerates, as demonstrated by the Q1 2025 statistics, where 86% of Indian smartphone shipments were 5G devices, representing a 14% annual increase.
Affordable 5G smartphones, priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 13,000, have been the driving force of this surge, achieving over 100% year-on-year growth.
The Indian smartphone market is witnessing a shift towards premium smartphones, with the affordable segment showing a modest 3% YoY growth and the value-for-money segment taking a 6% dip.
Brands are foreseen to face margin and relevance pressures in the value-for-money segment, as the Indian market positions itself to become a major player in the global smartphone value chain, driven by the mainstreaming of affordable 5G, an onslaught of on-device AI, and a rapid localization of supply chains.
