NEW DELHI — Apple iPhones registered 7 per cent India smartphone market share
in 2024, rising on robust local production and growing premiumisation trend in
smaller cities, a report showed on Thursday.
On year-on-year basis, iPhones registered 23 per cent
growth and iPads an impressive 44 per cent growth in the country, according to
data shared by CyberMedia Research (CMR) to IANS.
“Apple's strong growth momentum in CY2024, fuelled by
double-digit expansion in both iPhones and iPads, was driven by favourable
tailwinds from smartphone premiumisation, alongside a robust push by Apple in
domestic manufacturing and retail expansion,” said Prabhu Ram, VP-Industry
Research Group, CyberMedia Research (CMR).
India’s aspirational middle class is increasingly
investing in premium devices, not only as lifestyle statements but also for
their advanced technological capabilities.
“The enduring aspirational appeal of iPhones and iPads
continues to be a key driver of market growth for Apple, with sufficient
headroom to grow in CY2025 and beyond. It is still early days for Apple in
India,” he noted.
In the October-December quarter (Q4) of 2024, Apple, with
its aspirational image and rising footprint, entered the top 5 smartphone
players in India for the first time, garnering nearly 10 per cent market share
by volume.
Last year, the tech giant made new exports as well as
domestic sale records, driven by the government’s production-linked incentive
(PLI) scheme and aggressive retail expansion.
The company’s strategic approach in India over the past
year has resulted in significant achievements and increased market importance.
Apple’s India shipments were set to cross 11 million
marks in 2024.
Apple's growth in India is expected to continue with
significant momentum in the coming year, driven by aggressive retail expansion,
targeted marketing strategies, and a deeper penetration into the aspirational
Indian market, said Ram.
