India remains a key market for smartphone makers, all thanks to its ever-growing population. Counterpoint Research notes India’s smartphone market could reach new heights, potentially surpassing $50 billion by 2025. Another exciting takeaway from the report is that the retail average selling price (ASP) in India’s smartphone market could exceed $300 (approximately 25,700 INR) for the first time. This shift signals that consumers might fancy premium models.
India’s growing smartphone market means more customers making their way to Apple, Samsung
As is the case in most parts of the world, the lion’s share of the market goes to Chinese phone makers, such as BBK (which owns Vivo, Oppo, Realme, and OnePlus) and Xiaomi (including POCO). The remaining slice of the pie is claimed by Samsung, Apple, and others.
Samsung’s focus on offering value is working well, especially with its premium S series devices. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone “Pro” models are anticipated to witness strong demand. This means the upcoming Galaxy S25 series could see a significant uptick in sales in the country. There’s another reason for this potential success: with the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung shipped its flagships with Exynos chips in India. However, all Galaxy S25 models, even in select markets like India, are rumored to equip the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Two reasons why India would prefer having an Apple or Samsung flagship
The shift to Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets means more consumers will likely prefer the Galaxy S25 series over other flagships. In general, Snapdragon is considered superior to Exynos chipsets. So, whatever challenges Samsung Foundry may be facing, it has resulted in a win for markets like India.
As for Apple, the company has adjusted the pricing of its Pro models for the first time in India. It could do so due to local manufacturing. The iPhone 16 Pro, for instance, costs 1,19,900 INR ($1,397) in India, whereas in the US, it starts at $999. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro launched at 1,34,900 INR ($1,572), while the same model would cost $999 in the US.
When you put all these factors together for both Apple and Samsung, it becomes clear why India might fancy the premium route.
