5G Wave Drives Massive Smartphone Growth in India

India’s smartphone market experienced a sharp surge in the second quarter of 2025, powered primarily by the rapid adoption of affordable 5G smartphones. As per data from CyberMedia Research (CMR), the highlight of the quarter was the massive 600% growth in budget 5G phones, reflecting a major shift in consumer preferences.

Vivo Emerges as Market Leader

Vivo led both the overall and 5G smartphone segments with a 19% market share, closely followed by Samsung. This shows the growing dominance of brands that offer a wide 5G product range across price segments.

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Mid-Range 5G Phones Fuel the Growth

The Rs 10,000–Rs 13,000 5G smartphone segment saw a remarkable 138% year-on-year growth in Q2 2025. This surge was primarily led by brands like Xiaomi and Realme, who have captured the attention of first-time 5G upgraders looking for value-for-money smartphones.

“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,” said Menka Kumari, Senior Analyst at CMR.

Premium Segment Sees Shifts

In the premium category, Apple posted double-digit growth, indicating its continued popularity in high-end markets. Motorola also made an impressive 81% comeback, while Nothing soared by 190%, albeit from a small base.

However, not all brands had a smooth run. OnePlus saw a 21% decline in the premium segment, and Xiaomi’s overall market share dropped by 25%, marking its steepest fall among the top players.

Feature Phones Continue to Fade

As 5G continues to expand across India, feature phones are steadily declining. The 2G segment fell by 15%, while the 4G segment contracted by 31% year-on-year, indicating a clear shift toward smartphone adoption.

What Indian Consumers Want

While AI features are becoming a buzzword, consumers still prioritize core performance aspects like battery life, camera quality, and overall phone performance before making a purchase.

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