Shockingly, Only 4% Of Smartphones Sold in India Were iPhones

In the past three months, only 4% of smartphones sold in India were iPhones. This number ranks behind six other brands. Yet, it appears a bright future is on the horizon for Apple in India. A shift in Apple’s manufacturing strategy, aimed in part toward capturing more market share in India, is already in the works. This pivot has the potential to generate explosive growth for Apple.

According to information shared by The Times of India, Apple plans to move 25% of all iPhone manufacturing to India by 2025. The combination of existing plants and new ones that will be opened as part of this initiative is expected to provide an output in excess of 50 million iPhones annually. India’s growing retail environment together with Apple’s current growth trajectory in the country might be the recipe for success in a historically difficult market.

According to the India’s Economic Times, Apple is set to end 2023 with a 7% smartphone market share in that country, on the heels of iPhone shipments growing 68% there since 2022.

For some perspective on Apple’s potential upside in India, let’s look at the world’s largest smartphone markets and the iPhone’s corresponding market share. The top three markets are China, India, and the US, respectively. The populations of both China and India exceed 1.4 billion. The population of the US is about 334 million. iPhone market share in China is approximately 22%, according to a recent report from China Daily. In the US, analysts estimate Apple’s iPhone market share at 58%. It’s easy to see how even small gains in India’s smartphone market translate to dollars for Apple — plus a foothold similar to that which it has in China and the US.

While there are many factors at play, it’s apparent Apple is mobilizing to gain ground in India. Still, Apple will have some other hurdles to overcome, including limited retail presence in the country, regulatory challenges, supply chain constraints, and of course competition. Nevertheless, domestic manufacturing will allow it to avoid import duties and taxes, thereby reducing the previously high retail price of the iPhone in India. We look forward to tracking Apple’s plans in India and will keep you updated!