India’s 5G expansion

November 9, 2025

The Indian smartphone market is expected to post moderate single-digit shipment growth in 2025, supported by rising 5G adoption, growth in premium devices, and expanding consumer interest in connected ecosystems, according to a new report by CyberMedia Research. The market has shown signs of consistent recovery, driven by higher demand during the festive period and a shift toward feature-rich models. The report noted that India’s smartphone shipments grew 7 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025.

Much of this increase came from accelerated 5G upgrades and a strong push in the premium category, led primarily by Apple, Vivo, and Motorola. Apple continued to strengthen its foothold in India, leading the market by value with a 30 per cent share in the quarter. Samsung followed with a 22 per cent share, placing the two companies at the forefront of the segment by overall market value.

Vivo led the 5G smartphone market with an 18 per cent share, while Samsung accounted for 16 per cent. Industry analysts expect the ongoing festive sales and end-of-year promotions to further support shipment growth. Premium and ultra-premium smartphones are projected to remain the primary drivers, bolstered by flagship products from major brands such as Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus.

The report suggested that this trend reflects a broader consumer shift toward devices offering longer software support, higher performance, and stronger ecosystem integration. A significant development in the market has been the rising availability and demand for affordable 5G devices. According to the report, 5G smartphones made up 89 per cent of total shipments during the quarter, increasing 16 per cent year-on-year. The most notable expansion occurred in the Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 price range, where shipments of 5G models rose more than 1,600 per cent. Analysts attribute this surge to efforts by manufacturers to introduce budget-friendly models and by telecom operators to improve network coverage across urban and semi-urban regions. The rapid adoption of affordable 5G devices is reshaping upgrade patterns in India, pushing many consumers to transition directly from older entrylevel smartphones or feature phones. Promotional offers, easy financing, and exchange programmes have also encouraged upgrades during the festive period. Premium smartphone demand continued to grow at double-digit rates, while the feature phone segment saw sharp declines. The report recorded a 14 per cent year-on-year drop in 2G feature phone shipments and a 24 per cent decline in 4G feature phone shipments in the third quarter. Analysts state that the shift toward affordable 5G and the sustained momentum in premium devices will guide the next stage of growth in India’s smartphone market through 2025.