Apple hits record 10.4% India market share as iPhone shipments surge in Q3

Apple has touched a record 10.4% market share in India in Q3 2025, fuelled by 5 million iPhone shipments and strong demand for premium models, even as the broader smartphone market faces a slowdown

Apple-designed smartphone brand iPhone has seen one of its fastest-growing market shares in the Indian market for the third quarter (July-September) of calendar year 2025 (Q3CY25). During the quarter, Apple’s market share in the smartphone segment touched 10.4 per cent, a growth of 25.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), said data from International Data Corporation (IDC).

 

The September quarter is significant for Apple as it recorded its highest-ever quarterly shipments in India during the period, reaching 5 million units and securing the fourth position in the market for the first time.

 

Upasana Joshi, research manager, IDC India, said: “IDC projects a robust year-end for Apple, forecasting 15 million shipments for 2025, and strong double-digit growth.”

 

This contrasts sharply with the overall Indian smartphone market, which is expected to see a low single-digit annual decline in 2025, said IDC.

 

Apple’s gain in market share has come due to growth in the sale of premium smartphones. In the premium and super-premium segment, Apple has emerged as a dominant player.

 

The brand achieved a strong 25.6 per cent Y-o-Y growth, driven by sustained demand across both new and existing models. The iPhone 16 remained the most-shipped smartphone in India during the quarter, accounting for 5 per cent of total market shipments while the newly launched iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air saw a record-breaking debut, making up 16 per cent of Apple’s Q3 shipments — the strongest launch-quarter performance for any iPhone since 2021.

 

“This continued success stems from a multi-year strategy focused on affordability, primarily through steep price reductions on older-generation (n-1/n-2) devices during festive e-tailer sales, coupled with appealing no-cost EMI plans and exchange offers. This approach, combined with the brand's enduring aspirational value, has allowed Apple to capture a 10 per cent market share in two years,” said Joshi.

 

Apple’s share also grew as Indian smartphone segment saw a strong demand in the premium category. The premium segment in Q3CY25 recorded robust growth of 43.3 per cent Y-o-Y as its share increased from 4 per cent to 6 per cent. Apple’s iPhone 16, iPhone 15, and iPhone 17 collectively made up over 70 per cent of shipments in this category.

 

Similarly, in the super-premium ($800 and above) segment, Apple posted the highest growth of 52.9 per cent Y-o-Y in the quarter under review. The segment’s share rose from 6 per cent to 8 per cent.

 

IDC’s worldwide quarterly mobile phone tracker stated that Apple regained leadership from Samsung, with 66 per cent and 31 per cent share, respectively. Key models driving the segment included the iPhone 16, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold7, iPhone 16 Pro, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.