Qualcomm aims to regain 5G smartphone market share by competing across all price segments: India President

Qualcomm's Snapdragon

Qualcomm, the US-based chipmaker, is focused on delivering a premium smartphone experience through its Snapdragon chipsets across various price segments, aiming to remain competitive and reclaim market share from its Taiwanese rival, MediaTek.

“Our priority is to provide a premium experience. Last year, we launched the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, and we're pleased with the volumes and price points it's reaching. We're committed to offering a premium experience not only in flagship devices but also in a variety of price ranges where we intend to be highly competitive. You will see a lot of focus in India,” Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm India told Moneycontrol.

MediaTek dominated the mobile chipset market in India, capturing 51 percent of the overall 5G market, while Qualcomm followed with 32 percent. However, in the premium segment (Rs 30,000 and above), Qualcomm leads with a 34 percent share, ahead of Apple (27 percent), Samsung (24 percent), and MediaTek (14 percent).

MediaTek has also become the largest chipset supplier in India’s smartphone market, taking advantage of the shift from 4G to 5G devices and the premiumisation trend to strengthen its position, particularly in the Rs 30,000-plus segment.

According to Counterpoint Research, MediaTek leads the sub-Rs 30,000 5G smartphone market, with a 64 percent share in the first half of the year, while Qualcomm holds a 31 percent share.

Soin highlighted that India is a crucial market for Qualcomm. “You will see significant efforts from us here… as part of our Snapdragon for India initiative, we are developing products specifically for Indian consumers and industries,” he stated.

Qualcomm is also supporting initiatives like Make in India and Design in India while investing in India's semiconductor and AI ecosystems to further its market presence.

Last year, Qualcomm introduced its most affordable 5G chipset for the Indian market, enabling handset manufacturers to launch smartphones priced under Rs 8,200 ($99). The company has partnered with Reliance Jio and Xiaomi.

Xiaomi and its sub-brand Poco offer smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 chipset.

“These smartphones are performing exceptionally well. The devices and form factors they have introduced are impressive. The chipset was launched right after Diwali, and we expect strong sales in the coming months,” Soin said.