iPhone 16 Emerges as India’s Top-Selling Smartphone, Signalling Shift in Buying Trends

Mumbai — India’s smartphone market is witnessing a notable shift in consumer preferences, moving away from its long-standing dominance of budget devices, as Apple’s iPhone 16 base variant emerged as the country’s best-selling smartphone model in 2025, according to a report.

A Counterpoint Research report revealed that India recorded nearly 154 million smartphone shipments in 2025, with the iPhone 16 accounting for about 6.16 million units. This translates to roughly 4 per cent of the total market volume, a significant milestone for a premium-priced device.

Launched in September 2024, the iPhone 16 base model is priced at around Rs 71,000. Its strong performance has been attributed to Apple’s growing brand appeal in India, along with easy financing options such as equated monthly instalments (EMIs) and attractive exchange offers that have made premium smartphones more accessible.

The report also noted that close to 60 per cent of premium smartphones in India are now purchased through EMI schemes, highlighting changing affordability dynamics and consumer willingness to spend more on high-end devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said the company achieved a quarterly revenue record in India during the October–December period, reflecting the brand’s growing momentum in the country. Apple’s production and export figures from India have also continued to reach new highs each quarter.

During the December quarter, Apple recorded all-time revenue highs across the Americas, Europe, Japan, and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. “We continued to gain momentum in emerging markets, including India, where we saw strong double-digit revenue growth,” Cook said during the company’s earnings call late Thursday (US time). He also confirmed plans to open another Apple Store in Mumbai soon.

Responding to analysts, Cook reiterated that Apple had set a quarterly revenue record in India during the December quarter. He highlighted India’s importance to the company, noting that it is the world’s second-largest smartphone market and the fourth-largest PC market.

“We set quarterly revenue records for iPhone, Mac and iPad, and an all-time revenue record for services,” Cook added.

Apple CFO Kevan Parekh said iPhone revenue stood at $85.3 billion, marking a 23 per cent year-on-year increase, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup.

With inputs from IANS