India’s smartphone market has witnessed a notable contraction in Q1 2025, recording a 7% year-on-year (YoY) decline in overall shipments, according to the latest CyberMedia Research (CMR) India Mobile Handset Market Review Report. The market’s sluggish performance is being attributed to evolving consumer preferences, a dynamic competitive landscape, and a shifting focus toward premium, 5G-enabled, and AI-integrated devices. Meanwhile, the feature phone segment continues to face significant pressure, plunging by 37% YoY.

Rise of 5G Smartphones and Affordable Connectivity

Despite the overall downturn, one of the key growth engines in the market has been the proliferation of 5G smartphones. In Q1 2025, 5G-enabled devices comprised 86% of total smartphone shipments, marking a solid 14% YoY increase. Budget-friendly 5G devices priced between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 13,000 experienced over 100% growth YoY, reflecting strong demand from price-sensitive consumers.

CMR analyst Menka Kumari noted that the sub-Rs. 10,000 5G segment expanded by more than 500% YoY, driven by offerings from brands such as Xiaomi, POCO, Motorola, and Realme. This growth underscores a clear shift in consumer behavior, favoring affordability and next-gen connectivity.

On the contrary, the feature phone market saw a sharp decline: 2G feature phones dropped 17% YoY, while 4G feature phones fell a staggering 66% YoY. The traditional feature phone is rapidly losing relevance as users transition to more capable smartphones.

Smartphone Price Segment Performance

The sub-Rs. 7,000 smartphone segment showed modest improvement, growing 3% YoY. However, the crucial Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 25,000 value-for-money bracket declined by 6% YoY, indicating a gradual migration of users toward higher-end devices offering enhanced performance and features.

Market Leaders in Q1 2025

vivo emerged as the top smartphone brand with a 20% market share. Its robust 5G portfolio, including models like the vivo Y29, T3 Lite, T3X, and T4X, contributed 43% to its 5G shipments.

Samsung followed with an 18% share, although it faced a 13% YoY decline in its mid-range segment. Its flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra upheld its premium market presence.

Xiaomi ranked third, holding a 13% share, but registered a 37% YoY drop—the steepest among the leading brands. This decline was mainly due to underperformance in the budget and mid-range segments.

OPPO captured 12% of the market, growing 8% YoY, driven by successful models such as the OPPO A3X, K12X, and A3 Pro.

Motorola posted a remarkable 53% YoY growth, backed by its distinct hardware-software integration and a solid 5G lineup. The brand has now achieved double-digit growth in six of the last seven quarters.

Transsion Group saw a 13% YoY dip due to intense pricing pressure in the entry-level segment.

Nothing made a significant impact with over 200% YoY growth, with its Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro contributing nearly 20% of its quarterly sales.

Chipset Market Trends

MediaTek remained the leading chipset supplier, commanding 46% of overall smartphone chipset shipments. In the premium segment (above Rs. 25,000), Qualcomm led with a 35% share, reinforcing its stronghold in high-performance mobile platforms.

Apple’s Growing India Presence

Apple experienced 25% YoY growth in Q1 2025, capturing an 8% share of the Indian smartphone market. The success of the iPhone 16 series, including the iPhone 16e, played a pivotal role. Apple’s presence expanded significantly in the Rs. 50,000–Rs. 1,00,000 price bracket (up 28% YoY) and the Rs. 1,00,000+ segment (up 15% YoY), emphasizing its increasing relevance in India’s premium smartphone space.

Feature Phone Market: A Declining Category

The feature phone segment continued its downtrend. In 2G feature phones, itel retained the top position with a 41% market share, followed by Lava (31%) and HMD (19%). However, the segment’s future remains bleak amid the smartphone revolution.

Outlook for the Remainder of 2025

Looking ahead, CMR forecasts single-digit growth for the Indian smartphone market in 2025. Prabhu Ram, Head of Industry Intelligence Group at CMR, emphasized the pivotal role of affordable 5G, artificial intelligence, and supply chain localization in driving future market trends.

Ram also cautioned that brands solely relying on competitive pricing in the mid-range may lose ground as consumers increasingly opt for premium devices with AI capabilities. Furthermore, India’s evolving role in the global smartphone supply chain, bolstered by geopolitical shifts and rising local manufacturing, is expected to shape the industry’s trajectory.

Conclusion

India’s smartphone market in Q1 2025 reflects a nuanced transition phase. While overall shipments are down, growth in 5G, AI-centric innovation, and the premium segment signifies an evolving consumer base. Brands that align with these trends—through innovation, affordability, and manufacturing localization—will be best positioned for long-term success in one of the world’s most dynamic mobile markets.

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The post India Smartphone Market Faces 7% Decline in Q1 2025, But 5G and Premium Phones Surge: CMR Report appeared first on Before You Take.