Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-22 01:29Core Insights - The Indian smartphone market is projected to grow by 3% year-on-year in Q3 2025, with shipments reaching 48.4 million units, driven by pre-festival inventory replenishment and retail promotions [1][2] Market Performance - Vivo leads the market with a shipment of 9.7 million units, capturing a 20% market share [1] - Samsung follows with 6.8 million units shipped, holding a 14% market share [1] - Xiaomi ranks third with 6.5 million units, slightly ahead of OPPO, which has comparable shipment figures [1] - Apple returns to the top five with 4.9 million units shipped, driven by demand from lower-tier cities [1] Sales Strategies - Market momentum in Q3 is primarily driven by channel incentives rather than pure consumer demand recovery, with manufacturers reallocating marketing budgets to impactful retail incentive programs [2] - Retail incentives include cash bonuses, tiered profits, and dealer competitions offering rewards such as motorcycles and overseas trips [2] - Manufacturers have also enhanced consumer-facing promotions, including zero down payment plans and bundled sales [2] Company Strategies - Vivo's market leadership is attributed to a balanced product portfolio and strong promotional strategies, with its T series performing well online during the festive season [2] - Samsung has made progress in the mid-to-high-end market with older models and new Snapdragon-equipped S24 and S25 FE, but faces challenges in the entry-level segment [2] - OPPO's growth is driven by its F31 series and well-structured festive channel promotions [2] - Motorola achieved a record shipment of 4 million units, a 53% year-on-year increase, mainly due to the G series and Edge 60 expansion [2] - Nothing experienced a 66% growth, with its CMF Phone 2 Pro and Phone 3a as key models [2] Apple’s Market Position - Apple achieved its highest-ever shipment volume in India during Q3, with a market share of 10%, driven by demand from smaller cities and effective festive promotions [2] - The iPhone 16 and 15 series contributed significantly to shipments, alongside strong sales of the iPhone 17 standard version [2] - Apple plans to continue upgrading its Pro series and deepen its ecosystem to drive long-term value growth [2] Future Outlook - Despite a strong early performance in Q3, growth is not expected to continue into the year-end peak, with limited recovery in smartphone demand [2] - Urban consumers are delaying upgrades due to job uncertainty and cost sensitivity, leading to a potential inventory buildup in Q4 [2] - Rural market demand remains stable but insufficient to offset cautious urban sentiment, with an overall slight decline in the smartphone market anticipated for 2025 [2]