India Smartphone Shipments Hit Six-Year Low In Q1

India’s smartphone shipments declined 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, marking their weakest performance in six years, according to Counterpoint Research. The drop comes amid rising costs, price hikes, and weakening consumer demand, which have collectively weighed on overall market growth.

More than 80 smartphone models saw price increases of around 15%, with further hikes of 15–20% expected in the coming quarter. Analysts say higher component costs, currency pressures, and inflation have created an affordability squeeze, forcing manufacturers to pass on costs to consumers and dampening sales.

Despite the slowdown, Vivo led the market with a 21% share, followed by Samsung and Oppo. Apple increased its share to 9% on strong demand for its latest iPhone models, while Google emerged as the fastest-growing premium brand, driven by AI-powered features.

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