India’s smartphone shipments declined to 33.2 million units in the April-June 2026 quarter as higher component and memory costs pushed device prices higher.
Apple and Samsung improved their market share, while several Chinese brands faced sharp shipment declines amid pressure in the budget and mid-range segments.
Highlights
- India’s smartphone shipments fell 11.1% YoY to 33.2 million units in Q2 2026.
- January-June shipments declined 7.9% to 64.2 million units, the lowest first-half volume in five years.
- Average smartphone selling price rose 14.4% to a record $315.
- Entry-level smartphone shipments below $100 crashed 74.3% year-on-year.
- Vivo remained the market leader with 18.4% share, followed by Samsung at 16.4%.
- Apple increased its Q2 market share to 8.5% from 7.5% a year earlier.
India’s smartphone market continued to slow in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments falling 11.1% year-on-year to 33.2 million units, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
The decline followed a 4.1% fall in the January-March quarter. Smartphone shipments during the first half of 2026 stood at 64.2 million units, down 7.9% from the same period last year. IDC said this was India’s lowest first-half shipment volume in five years, although the overall market value increased 3.6%.
Higher component and memory costs played a major role in reshaping the market. Average selling prices increased 14.4% year-on-year to a record $315 during the quarter.
The pressure was particularly severe in the entry-level segment. Shipments of smartphones priced below $100 declined 74.3% year-on-year, while the segment’s market share dropped from 15.6% to just 4.5%.
As entry-level 5G smartphones became more expensive, some brands increased their focus on 4G models. This pushed the share of 4G smartphones to 11.1%, though IDC expects the trend to be temporary.
Consumer demand also moved towards higher price segments. The $400-$600 smartphone category recorded 60.3% year-on-year growth, with its market share increasing from 4.8% to 8.6%. The $100-$200 segment remained the largest category, accounting for 46.8% of the market.
Online smartphone shipments fell 19.8% year-on-year, reducing the online channel’s share from 46.4% to 41.9%. Offline shipments performed relatively better, declining only 3.6%.
Among brands, Vivo remained the largest smartphone company in India by shipments with an 18.4% share in Q2 2026. Samsung ranked second with a 16.4% share, up 0.4 percentage points from a year earlier.
Apple ranked sixth during the quarter but increased its shipment share to 8.5% from 7.5% in Q2 2025. IDC also said the iPhone 17 was the highest-shipped smartphone model in India during the first half of 2026.
Several leading Chinese smartphone brands, meanwhile, recorded double-digit shipment declines as rising costs put additional pressure on brands with greater exposure to the budget and mid-range market.
IDC expects affordability pressures to continue in the second half of 2026. With brands offering fewer early discounts, financing options are expected to become increasingly important during the festive season.
