The Indian smartphone market has started 2025 on a sluggish note and the overall shipments witnessed a sharp decline. According to the latest report from IDC India, smartphone shipments in January 2025 fell by 9.7% year-on-year (YoY), marking a significant slowdown in a market that had previously shown steady growth. Apple and OPPO emerged as the only brands to register positive shipment numbers. Industry giants like Samsung, Vivo, and Realme faced setbacks and saw negative growth.
A total of 11.1 million smartphone units were shipped across India in January 2025. That’s a notable drop from the previous year. This downturn can be attributed to weak consumer demand and surplus inventory carried over from the last quarter of 2024.
Samsung, which had high expectations with the launch of its flagship Galaxy S25 series, faced the biggest setback. It registered a massive 19.5% YoY drop in shipments. However, it’s important to note that the Galaxy S25 series wasn’t available for sale until February 7. Vivo and Realme also saw a drop of 8.1% YoY and 5.3% YoY, respectively. Still, these brands managed to increase their market share.
Apple and OPPO emerged as the only brands to post positive YoY growth in January 2025. Apple saw an impressive 11.7% increase in shipments and secured a top-five position in the Indian smartphone market for the fifth consecutive month. Its market share grew from 9.2% in January 2024 to 11.4% in January 2025. OPPO also performed well and posted a 5.9% growth in shipments. It also increased its market share from 9.9% to 11.6%.
It is important to note that Xiaomi is now at 7th place. The company once led the Indian smartphone market for several months continuously. However, it is important to note that IDC counts POCO as a separate brand that is actually a subsidiary of Xiaomi.
This report confirms that consumer interest in new smartphones remained subdued despite new product launches. Apple’s continuous rise in the Indian market signals a shift in consumer preference, especially in the premium segment. The coming months will be important in determining whether this slowdown is a temporary blip or an indication of a larger shift in consumer behavior and market dynamics.
