New Delhi: Led by inexpensive units, 5G smartphone shipments accounted for 86 per cent of the general Indian market within the January-March quarter, marking a 14 per cent annual improve, based on a brand new report. Notably, 5G smartphones priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 13,000 recorded over 100 per cent YoY development, reflecting surging demand for inexpensive 5G entry, mentioned the report by CyberMedia Analysis (CMR).

Vivo led the 5G smartphone market with a 21 per cent market share, adopted by Samsung at 19 per cent. The premium phase continued to develop, buoyed by sturdy demand for 5G-enabled and AI-ready smartphones, mentioned the report.

“The Rs 10,000 and decrease 5G smartphone phase witnessed over 500 per cent YoY development in Q1 2025. This displays sturdy shopper urge for food for inexpensive 5G smartphones,” mentioned Menka Kumari, senior analyst at CMR.

Manufacturers resembling Xiaomi, POCO, Motorola and Realme are main this surge, she talked about. Whereas the inexpensive smartphone phase grew a modest 3 per cent YoY, the value-for-money phase declined by 6 per cent, reflecting a continued shift towards premium smartphones.

Apple posted a 25 per cent development YoY, and captured an 8 per cent market share, pushed by sturdy demand for premium smartphones and a broader retail presence in India. The iPhone 16 collection, together with the iPhone 16e, considerably contributed to this development, with Apple’s market share within the super-premium phase rising 28 per cent YoY and the uber-premium phase (Rs 1,00,000 and above) up 15 per cent, the report talked about.

In 2025, CMR anticipates the Indian smartphone market to witness average development, with shipments rising in single digits. “Within the quarters forward, India’s smartphone market shall be formed by three converging forces: the mainstreaming of inexpensive 5G, the fast infusion of on-device AI, and the rising acceleration for provide chain localisation,” mentioned Prabhu Ram, VP at CyberMedia Analysis (CMR).

Because the premium phase accelerates on the again of AI integration, manufacturers that fail to evolve past price-based competitors within the value-for-money phase will face margin and relevance pressures.

“Concurrently, inexpensive 5G is a rising baseline expectation, amidst intensifying competitors. With geopolitical shifts accelerating native manufacturing, India is poised to turn out to be each a key market and a vital node within the world smartphone worth chain,” Ram added.