Korean Media: In India’s smartphone market, Samsung and Apple see rising shares, while Chinese brands struggle noticeably!
On September 20, South Korean media outlet Financial News published an article stating that in India—the world’s second-largest smartphone market and manufacturing hub—Chinese brands are losing ground, while Samsung Electronics and Apple are expanding their market share.
According to data released by market research firm IDC, smartphone shipments in India reached 33.2 million units in the second quarter of 2026, a year-on-year decline of 11.1%. Cumulative shipments for the first half of the year totaled just 64.2 million units, marking the lowest level recorded in the past five years.
The decline in smartphone shipments across India is primarily driven by increased investment in artificial intelligence data centers, which has intensified shortages in memory and storage components, thereby increasing production costs for manufacturers. This supply constraint has had a dual impact on India’s low-end smartphone segment: shipment volumes have dropped while prices have risen, placing greater financial pressure on price-sensitive consumers.
The downturn among Chinese brands has been particularly pronounced. Major players including vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and realme all experienced double-digit declines in shipments. Vivo saw a year-on-year drop of 13% in Q2, with its market share falling from 19% to 18.4%. realme’s shipments declined by 14.2%, Xiaomi by 10%, with its market share at 9.7%. OPPO maintained a market share of 13.8%, though its shipments fell by 8.5%. Other Chinese brands were similarly affected: Poco, OnePlus, and iQOO recorded year-on-year declines of 12.3%, 2.5%, and 61%, respectively.
In contrast, Samsung Electronics maintained relatively stable shipment volumes, though its market share expanded. The company captured 16.4% of the Indian market in the second quarter. During the same period, Apple’s market share rose to 8%.
IDC analysis suggests that the decline in Chinese firms’ market share cannot be attributed solely to memory supply constraints. The report indicates that as these companies restructured their product portfolios toward higher-margin devices, rising prices prompted consumers accustomed to low-cost options to increasingly shift toward alternative brands. IDC further notes that the widespread availability of installment financing has narrowed price differentials between products, leading consumers to favor well-established brands with more reliable supply chains—contributing significantly to the sharp drop in Chinese brand shipments.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876812236158976/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.