5G drives India’s smartphone surge in Q2 2025; affordable 5G phones see 600% growth

While AI features are gaining buzz, battery life, camera, and performance remain top buying factors for Indian consumers. (file image)

India’s smartphone market grew 8% year-on-year in Q2 2025, powered by a massive 87% share of 5G smartphone shipments, according to CyberMedia Research (CMR). Affordable 5G devices priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 recorded a staggering 600% YoY growth, signaling a sharp shift in consumer demand towards value-driven 5G adoption.

Vivo led both the overall and 5G smartphone market with a 19% share, followed closely by Samsung. Mid-range 5G smartphones in the Rs 10,000–13,000 segment saw 138% growth, led by Xiaomi and Realme.
Meanwhile, Apple clocked double-digit growth in the premium segment, Motorola made a strong comeback with 81% growth, and Nothing soared 190% on a small base.

However, OnePlus saw a 21% decline in the premium category, and Xiaomi’s market share dropped 25%, its steepest fall among top brands. Feature phones continued to decline, with 2G and 4G segments shrinking 15% and 31% YoY respectively.

Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR) said, “The Rs 10,000 - Rs 13,000 5G smartphone segment witnessed over 138% YoY growth in Q2 2025. This surge was primarily driven by the growing demand for value-for-money 5G smartphones among first-time smartphone upgraders."

On the other hand, the 2G feature phone segment declined 15%, YoY, while 4G feature phones declined sharply by 31% YoY.

CMR forecasts moderate full-year growth for 2025, with festive season launches expected to fuel upgrades. While AI features are gaining buzz, battery life, camera, and performance remain top buying factors for Indian consumers.

In CY2025, CMR anticipates the Indian smartphone market to witness moderate growth, with shipments growing in single digits.

“The second half of the year will be pivotal, driven by new smartphone launches times with the festive season. Upcoming flagship smartphone launches are expected to drive heightened consumer interest and accelerate device upgrade cycles,” added Pankaj Jadli, Analyst – Industry Intelligence Group at CyberMedia Research (CMR).