Smartphone market in India to decline 10-12% in shipments in 2026: Report

The smartphone market in India is likely to decline 10-12 per cent in shipments in the Calendar Year 2026 with the affordable segment to be the worst affected, said data released by CyberMedia Research (CMR).

In the Q1 of 2026, India’s smartphone shipments declined by 2 per cent year-on-year. The period marked one of the weakest quarterly performances in recent years, with the impact uneven across price segments.

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The report said that the affordable segment was the worst affected, with shipments declining by 46 per cent, and is expected to face continued volume pressure, margin compression and cautious consumer demand through the year.

As per CMR data, Vivo continued to lead India’s smartphone market with a 21 per cent share, followed by Samsung at 17 per cent, OPPO at 14 per cent and Xiaomi at 12 per cent. Among the top five brands, only Vivo and OPPO recorded year-on-year growth in shipments, it said.

Apple registered growth, reaching a 9 per cent shipment share in Q1 CY2026. The iPhone 16 series accounted for 53 per cent of its volumes, while the newer iPhone 17 series contributed 28 per cent.

On the other hand, Samsung recorded a decline in shipments but retained the second position with a 17 per cent market share during the quarter.

Separately, as per the Counterpoint Research data for Q1 CY2026, globally, Apple and Samsung dominated the list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones.

The iPhone 17 led the rankings, accounting for 6 per cent of global unit sales. Xiaomi also featured, with the Redmi A5 ranking at the bottom of the top 10 list.