Apple is anticipated to achieve a new landmark in India. According to preliminary estimates from research firm IDC, the company is anticipated to report its record iPhone sales in the first quarter of 2025, with over 3 million units delivered from January to March.
2.21 million iPhones sold in quarter 1 of 2024
This represents a significant increase from the 2.21 million iPhones sold during the equivalent period last year. It illustrates the rapid growth of Apple in India, a market that is increasingly significant for the company annually.
According to Upasna Joshi, research manager at IDC, Apple’s expansion in India has been bolstered by affordability initiatives like No Cost EMIs, cashback deals, and discounts provided by online stores. These offers enabled the company to attain robust double-digit growth even during a period when the overall smartphone market in India is projected to decrease slightly.
Joshi said, “Surpassing 3 million units in 1Q25, Apple will record its largest first-quarter shipments in India.”
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iPhone 16 series contributed to growth of Apple in India
The recently introduced iPhone 16 series, featuring the affordable iPhone 16e, has significantly contributed to this expansion. These latest models accounted for more than fifty percent of all iPhone deliveries in the quarter. This marks a change from 2024, when previous models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 accounted for the majority of seasonal sales.
Even with Apple’s impressive figures, the overall smartphone market in India has not performed as strongly. According to the figures from January and February, IDC anticipates an 8.1% decline in shipments relative to last year. Numerous consumers are now more cautious with their expenditures, despite the presence of discounts.
Vivo and Samsung experienced decline in sales
Leading brands such as Vivo and Samsung experienced a decline in their sales by 2.7% and 19.5%, respectively. Conversely, Oppo and Realme succeeded in achieving growth of 14.3% and 5.3%. Apple, now positioned fourth in market share, experienced the quickest growth of all major brands at 36.1%, as reported by IDC’s Aditya Rampal.
India has now emerged as Apple’s fourth-biggest market globally, following the United States, China, and Japan. In 2024, Apple delivered a historic 12 million iPhones in India, marking a 35% rise compared to the prior year.
In the final quarter of 2024, Apple made its debut on the list of India’s top five smartphone brands. It secured a 10% market share, primarily driven by robust demand for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 models.
Since the beginning of 2023, Apple has continuously surpassed its own sales records in India, and analysts expect this upward trend to persist. The firm’s iPhone sales in India are predicted to hit between 13 and 14 million units by 2025. This significant growth will assist Apple in preserving its dominance in the premium smartphone sector and enhance its positioning among the top five brands by total volume.
