Apple Has Strongest-Yet Quarter for iPhone Sales in India

Apple had its strongest quarter for iPhone sales in India yet, a sign the Cupertino company is finally making headwind in the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market.

The latest numbers from Counterpoint Research suggest Apple had the highest revenue among all major smartphone brands in India in Q4 2021, with the company estimated to have shipped 2.3 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, up 34 percent from a year earlier.

“It’s a turning point for Apple in India. Indians were willing to lavish money on premium phones during the pandemic because everyone’s lives revolved around their devices and there was nothing else to spend on,” said Neil Shah, the Mumbai-based partner and research head at Counterpoint.

Apple’s sales still lagged behind Android rivals, however. China’s Xiaomi and South Korea’s Samsung sold 9.3 million and 7.2 million smartphones for the quarter respectively, leading in terms of units.

Apple’s market share remains at about 5 percent in India, despite the boost in sales.

Despite being significantly behind Xiaomi and Samsung in terms of shipments, Apple is said to have raked in more revenue. Since its devices are generally more expensive than Samsung and Xiaomi’s offerings, Apple is estimated to have made $2.09 billion USD from iPhone sales in India in Q4 2021. Samsung, on the other hand, reportedly pulled in about $2 billion USD.

According to Counterpoint, the average selling price of an iPhone in the country was $908 USD in the recent quarter. Samsung’s average selling price was $278 USD, while Xiaomi’s was even lower at $172.

The growth in iPhone sales in the country can be attributed to the recent changes in Apple’s strategy. Apple launched its online store in India in late 2020 and has also started manufacturing iPhones locally.