According to a recent report from Counterpoint Research (CR), the Indian smartphone market experienced a significant decline of 10% in shipments during the second quarter of this year (April-June) compared to the same period last year. This marks the largest shipment drop in the country in six years, with Chinese brands also seeing their lowest overall market share in a second quarter since 2020.
Vivo retained its position as the market leader, but this status is affected by CR's policy of not adding the market share of sub-brands to the main brand. Vivo alone holds a 17.8% market share, but when including its sub-brand iQOO, this figure rises to 19.5%. Interestingly, while Oppo appears to be in third place, its combined market share with sub-brands OnePlus and Realme reaches an impressive 26.1%, making it the true market leader.
Samsung captured 17.6% of the market, experiencing a 2% increase in shipments, while Xiaomi's momentum grew its share from 8% to 9.4%. Conversely, Poco saw its share drop from 5.4% to 4%. Collectively, their market share remains unchanged at 13.4% compared to Q2 2025, although Realme and OnePlus both improved their positions year-over-year.
Remarkably, Nothing has emerged as India's fastest-growing smartphone brand, with shipments soaring by 105% compared to Q2 2025, driven by strong demand for the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, along with heightened visibility thanks to its sponsorship of the RCB cricket team. In the high-end segment, priced above INR 45,000 (approximately $467), Google recorded the highest growth at 68% versus Q2 2025, attributed to stable pricing. Conversely, Apple experienced a 3% drop in shipments, maintaining a 7% market share.
CR's analysis indicates that the average smartphone price rose by approximately 15% by the end of the second quarter, largely due to soaring memory and storage costs. The sub-INR 15,000 ($155) segment was particularly impacted, with shipments in this category declining by 45% year-over-year.
In contrast, the segment priced above INR 45,000 remained relatively stable, bolstered by the increasing popularity of financing options. Looking ahead, CR predicts that the Indian smartphone market will experience a 13% decline for the entirety of the year, as memory prices are expected to continue rising.
