Apple’s iPhone is rapidly gaining ground in India, shipping around 14 million units in 2025, based on market data shared exclusively with TechCrunch.

Yet the country’s overall smartphone market was almost flat at around 152-153 million devices. This means that for the full year of 2025, Apple’s shipment market share will increase by a record 9%. That’s up from 7% in 2024, Counterpoint Research data shows, making it the iPhone’s strongest year yet in the world’s second-largest smartphone market by volume.

The gains were driven by the iPhone’s product portfolio, increasingly aspirational demand and wider availability across sales channels, said Tarun Pathak, director of devices and ecosystems at Counterpoint Research.

Apple has repeatedly pointed to India as a standout market in recent quarters, CEO Tim Cook told the company. Set “all time revenue record in India”. In its last earnings call in October. CFO Kevan Parekh also said the iPhone’s active install base reached an all-time high in India and the company set a quarterly record for upgraders, highlighting Apple’s expanding user base beyond just new buyers, though the company did not disclose detailed figures for India on the call.

Beyond shipments, Apple continues to widen its footprint in India Ramping up local production and expanding its retail reach. Last month the company said It has opened its fifth Apple Store This is as part of a wider retail expansion – the first in Noida – in the country Started in 2023.

Apple is also sharpening its service pitch in India. Earlier this month, it Apple has launched Creator Studio — A subscription bundle of creative apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro — Priced at ₹399 per month ($4.35) in India. That’s about 66% less than the $12.99 it charges per month in the US, which is how the company is pricing to deepen its reach in the country.

That strong iPhone year came against a market that essentially stopped growing. With the October-December quarter down 8-10% year-on-year despite the festive season, Counterpoint estimates, India is set to log its fourth consecutive year at the same shipment level of around 152 million units.

Long replacement cycles, low feature phone users upgrading to smartphones and growing popularity of refurbished devices are among the key factors struggling for market growth, Pathak told TechCrunch.

Even as overall shipments stagnate, India’s premium segment continues to expand. Smartphones priced above ₹30,000 (about $327) grew 15% year-on-year in 2025 and accounted for a record 23% of total shipments – the highest share ever – according to Counterpoint.

This shift has helped brands with strong premium portfolios, including Apple, gain ground even as the mass market slows.

In terms of volume, China’s Vivo led India’s smartphone market in 2025 with 23% shipments per counterpoint, followed by Samsung at 15% and Xiaomi at 13%.

Apple remained outside India’s top three in terms of shipments despite its record year, underscoring how the market is still dominated by mass-market Android brands even as premium devices take increasing share.

Counterpoint expects India’s smartphone market to slip by around 2% in 2026, it warns Memory prices are rising That could dampen demand in the sub-₹15,000 (under $170) segment and force phone makers to cut cashback offers, trim specifications or raise prices. Nevertheless, the average selling price is forecast to increase by 5% in 2026 after a 9% increase in 2025, suggesting a continuation of the premiumization trend.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.