Apple has achieved a significant milestone in India, becoming the country’s fourth largest smartphone brand. According to the latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, Apple captured a 10% market share in Q4 2024, marking its first entry into India’s top five smartphone brands.
Apple’s Growth in India
Apple’s presence in India has steadily grown since it began local iPhone assembly in 2017 with the iPhone SE (1st Gen) at Wistron’s plant in Peenya, Bengaluru. Over the years, Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics have set up multiple plants in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, boosting Apple’s manufacturing capabilities.
In 2020, Apple launched its online store in India, followed by opening two official retail stores, Apple BKC (Mumbai) and Apple Saket (Delhi). These stores generated revenue of around Rs 190-200 crore in the 2023-24 financial year.
Apple’s Record-Breaking iPhone Shipments
Apple shipped 12 million iPhones in India in 2024, recording an impressive 35% year-over-year growth. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 were the most shipped models, accounting for 6% of overall shipments.
With this, India has become Apple’s fourth largest market, following China, the United States, and Japan. As competition increases from local brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, Apple is witnessing a slowdown in China, while the US market is reaching saturation. This makes India a crucial market for Apple’s future growth.
Apple’s Future Expansion in India
Apple is continuously increasing its investments in India. The company recently launched the Apple Store mobile app and announced plans to open four new Apple Stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai later this year.
India’s Overall Smartphone Market in Q4 2024
India’s smartphone shipments grew by 4% year-over-year in Q4 2024. Here are the leading smartphone brands displayed in the graph:
Nothing Inc., led by Carl Pei, recorded the highest growth, followed by Motorola and iQOO.
Future Smartphone Trends in India
Smartphone shipments in 2025 will be driven by:
- Price cuts on older iPhone models
- Affordable financing options
- 5G adoption
- AI-powered features
According to Navkendar Singh, Associate VP at IDC India, the mass segment (₹8,000 – ₹16,000) and entry-premium segment (₹16,000 – ₹32,000) will be key to driving growth in 2025. However, the weakening rupee could impact Average Selling Prices (ASPs), limiting growth to below 5% annually.
Meanwhile, feature phone sales are declining, with shipments dropping 11% YoY to 54 million units. Transsion led with a 30% share, followed by Nokia and Lava.
With Apple’s expanding presence, rising iPhone demand, and India’s growing digital ecosystem, the country is set to become a key player in Apple’s global strategy.
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