India Smartphone Shipments Hit Six Year Low in Q1 2026
Shipments fell 3% as manufacturers raised prices by 15% due to rising costs. Vivo led the market while Google saw significant growth in the premium segment.
Smartphone shipments in India fell 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, marking the weakest quarterly performance for the sector in six years. According to Counterpoint Research, the downturn was driven by a combination of rising production costs, significant price increases for consumers, and soft demand across the market.
More than 80 smartphone models experienced average price hikes of 15% during the period, with industry analysts forecasting further increases of 15% to 20% in the second quarter. Senior analyst Prachir Singh noted that the sector is grappling with a significant challenge regarding consumer access to hardware.
The market is facing a clear affordability squeeze, driven by sharp memory-led cost inflation and currency pressures that have forced OEMs to raise prices across key models.
In terms of market leadership, Vivo secured the top position with a 21% market share. It was followed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD and Oppo. Meanwhile, APPLE INC captured 9% of the market, supported by consistent interest in its iPhone 17 series.
ALPHABET INC-CL A emerged as the fastest-growing brand within the premium segment, recording a 39% year-on-year increase in shipments. This growth was largely attributed to the integration of advanced artificial intelligence features in its latest devices. Looking ahead, research director Tarun Pathak indicated that the market will likely continue to face headwinds.
Indias smartphone market is expected to remain under pressure in the near term, with Q2 2026 likely to see a double-digit decline.
