India becomes Apple's 4th biggest market, registers 35% growth: IDC

Apple has achieved a significant milestone by breaking into the top five smartphone brands in India for the first time, capturing a 10% market share in Q4 2024, according to IDC's (International Data Corporation)'s latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report. The Cupertino-based tech giant recorded 12 million iPhone shipments in India, marking a remarkable 35% year-over-year growth.
India's Growing Significance in Apple's Global Market
According to information, India has now become Apple’s fourth-largest market after China, the United States, and Japan. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 were the most shipped models, accounting for 6% of overall shipments during the quarter. With Apple's penetration in the U.S. reaching saturation and increasing competition from local brands like Huawei and Xiaomi in China, India has emerged as a key growth engine for the company.
Since its initial local assembly of iPhones in India in 2017, starting with the iPhone SE (1st Gen) at Wistron's plant in Bengaluru, Apple has been expanding its manufacturing presence in the country. Major suppliers such as Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics have established multiple production facilities in South India, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. In 2020, Apple launched its online store in India, followed by two fully owned retail stores—Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in Delhi—which collectively generated revenue of approximately Rs 190-200 crore in FY 2023-24.
Apple continues to deepen its footprint in India with plans to open four new retail stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai later this year. Additionally, the company recently introduced the Apple Store mobile app to enhance customer experience and drive sales in the region.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a recent financial update emphasized the company’s strategic focus on India. He reportedly stated, "India set a December-quarter record during the quarter, and we’re opening more stores there. The iPhone was the top-selling model in India for the quarter. The country is the second-largest smartphone market in the world and the third-largest for PCs and tablets, offering tremendous growth potential."
India’s overall smartphone shipments grew by 4% year-over-year in Q4 2024. Vivo, Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi led the market, holding 16.6%, 13.2%, 12%, and 12% shares, respectively. Notably, Nothing Inc. recorded the highest growth among all brands, followed by Motorola and iQOO. With steady advancements in 5G and AI, smartphone shipments are expected to increase further in 2025, though a weakening rupee could impact pricing and limit annual growth to below 5%.
While the smartphone market continues to grow, feature phone shipments in India have declined. In 2024, feature phone sales dropped by 11% year-over-year, with 54 million units shipped. Transsion led the segment with a 30% market share, followed by Nokia and Lava,according to information.

(Business Correspondent)