Category Blog, Insights

Smartphone Users in India (Statistics & Facts) – 2024

Author Raj Vardhman Published on 12 min read
Smartphone Users in India

India has become the leading and second-largest smartphone market in the world, with Samsung and Apple being the most dominant brands in the country. Other popular brands are Xiaomi, Viva, Oppo, and OnePlus. The number of smartphone users in India is also on the rise and has been following an increasing trend. This blog post will discuss some essential details regarding the percentage of smartphone users in India.

How Many Smartphone Users Are Present in India?

  • The major smartphone brands have quickly penetrated their way into the Indian mobile market, and now, over 500 million Indians are using smartphones.
  • The smartphone users in India are expected to reach 760 million in the year 2021 and this number is constantly rising. It will substantially increase in the next few years.
  • 2019 saw a 15% increase in smartphone users in India. This number crossed 500 million.

Smartphone Penetration Rate in India

The smartphone industry in India is a growing business, and it has been predicted that by 2022, at least over 36% of mobile phone users in the country will own a smartphone.

Smartphone Market Share in India – 2021

The following data represents the mobile market share in India for the third quarter of 2020. The Indian market has been recognized as the fastest-growing market throughout the world.

  • By the end of December 2020, Samsung led the Indian smartphone market with a 24.2% total market share.
  • Vivo and Realme also experienced a growth of 4% by the last quarter of 2020. This rate is expected to rise by the end of the year 2021.
  • The Indian smartphone market crossed over 53 million units in the third quarter of 2020.
  • Xiaomi is closely following Samsung with a 23.2% market share and is currently the top brand in India.
  • The demands for a smartphone sharply increased during lockdown from June 2020, and the market hit the half-a-billion mark.
  • Xiaomi enjoyed 29% of the Indian market share during the lockdown.

Best Selling Mobile Brand in India 2020

Smartphones have changed the way we think, act, and live. For example, you can work during your commute, stay in touch with your friends while you are abroad, book instant flights, and buy things online.

Smartphones are popular everywhere, even in developing countries such as India. However, choosing the best-selling smartphone in India is a difficult task because there are so many brands to choose from, and each brand has its unique outstanding specifications.

Samsung

Samsung is the leading, best-selling smartphone in the Indian market. Its current market share has crossed 24% and is still increasing rapidly. The brand is not only user-friendly, but it also provides a great user experience overall. Some of Samsung’s mid-range phones, such as the A-series, are quite affordable and focus on a niche market.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi is the second best seller in the smartphone market in India. It is in close competition with Samsung, and the Xiaomi market share in India has crossed 23% of its last recorded market share. Xiaomi is a Chinese brand and gained popularity among consumers in a short span of time since its arrival. Xiaomi phones have all of the features that are found in Samsung except for a few unique ones. The brand focuses on high-quality tech at a lower price to make it available for all market segments. 

Oneplus

OnePlus is another leading brand in India and currently enjoys 15% of the market share thanks to its newly launched OnePlus 8, which became the top-selling phone across the country. OnePlus also recently launched its highly-anticipated OnePlus Nord, which also supports 5G technology.

Apple

The Apple market share in India has seen a growth of products in the Smartphone market. Even though Apple is not as popular as Samsung in India, it still enjoys a fair share in the market. A 3.35% growth in its market share was recorded in July 2020. The reason for Apple’s struggle in the Indian market is that its structure and pricing are more suited to a western audience.

Vivo

Vivo sales in India are at 16% market share. It is mainly popular because of its best-selling value-for-money phones, including the Vivo X50 Pro and Vivo V20 SE. The brand even overtook Samsung’s place in the first quarter of 2020 while Xiaomi remained on top.

Realme

Realme is also increasingly becoming more popular among consumers in India. The brand’s goal is to increase its offline market share to 40%, which goes to show the ambition that this brand has.

Oppo

Oppo was the sponsor of the Indian national cricket team and is also a leading manufacturer in the Indian smartphone market. The Oppo X2 Pro is one of Oppo’s most advanced and accomplished smartphones, whereas its X2 Lite is affordable and offers 5G technology.

Chinese Mobile Companies Market Share in India 2020

Some of the Chinese brands have been having a tough time with regards to the shipping of their phones into the country. This is because of the high scrutiny checks at customs, which has also affected the mobile phone market share of these brands in the country.

  •  In the first quarter of 2019, the market share of Chinese brands reached 66%.
  • Xiaomi remained the market leader in the industry with a total share of 29%.
  • However, Xiaomi saw a 2% drop in its shipments.

Premium Smartphone Market Share

The best thing about premium smartphones is that they focus on the little things that other phones usually overlook. For instance, premium smartphones pay more attention to water-resistant qualities, display, cameras, overall design, and much more. The following are the best premium smartphones you can buy in India:

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most premium smartphone you can buy in India. The number of iPhone users in India dominated the smartphone market with a 48.8% share in the second quarter of 2020. The launch of the iPhone 12 Pro Max has been successful in India, especially during the latter months of lockdown.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is one of the most premium smartphones out there. It includes all of the latest high-tech features with cutting-edge design and 5G connectivity. Samsung is determined to remain the market leader in India.

It has not been that long since OnePlus entered the Indian market. It has gained immense popularity and attention from smartphone users since it contains all of the essential qualities and features that tech-savvy people look for in a smartphone. The OnePlus 8 Pro gained a total market share of 19% and is the second-best smartphone among the Chinese brands.

Smartphone Users Statistics in India 2021

In 2021, the total number of mobile phone users in India is expected to touch 760 million. This number will rise to 3.8 billion smartphone users all over the world.

By 2025, 973.89 million people in India will have access to a smartphone.

Demographics of Smartphone Users in India

Number of Smartphone Users in Rural India

India is estimated to have more rural smartphone users compared to urban. This is due to inexpensive mobile data and value-for-money smartphones. The number of smartphone users in the rural areas increased in 2018 from 9% to 25%.

The transition of smartphone use in rural areas was swift because some phones are affordable and have strategic promotional methods. People living in rural areas have also started to widely accept the idea of owning and using smartphones. New Delhi is the main smartphone hub in India and is estimated to reach 820 million in the next two years.

Number of Smartphone Users in India by Gender

When it comes to buying smartphones, men are mostly ahead of women. This is because women usually consider shopping as a social experience, whereas men shop for phones rather quickly and easily.

  • In 2016, about 70% of smartphone users in India were male, and 30% were female.
  • In 2020, the split changed to 60% of male smartphone users and 40% of female smartphone users.
  • In most countries, however, females use smartphones more than men, with a daily mean of 166.78 minutes compared to 154.26 minutes.

Number of Smartphone Users in India by Age

According to a survey conducted in 2019, the highest penetration rate in the use of smartphones was for the age group of 18 to 24 years, with 37%.

The next age group that uses smartphones the most is the age group of 24 to 35 years. Smartphones were once known as status symbols, but now, they have become immensely common due to disposable income and fast-paced lifestyles. Efficient operating systems and low data rates have also stirred the growth of smartphones in India. The smartphone market is now saturated with high competition and increased consumer demand.  

Consumer Behavior: Smartphone Usage by Statistics

Time Spent by Indians on Smartphones

  • In 2019, the usage of mobile phone devices rose 39.4% at 3.3 hours each day in India.
  • In 2020, the time recorded was 40% at 4.6 hours. Based on these trends, the time of usage is likely to increase in the future. More time is spent on day-to-day activities now than has ever been spent before. For example, many people tend to attend online lectures, classes, seminars, etc., on their smartphones. 

Frequency of Smartphone Change in India

  • In the year 2020, it was recorded that over 46% of smartphone users in India decide to change their original smartphone after every two years.
  • At least 9% of the people who own smartphones changed their devices within the first six months of use. The main reason for changing a smartphone is to own a better one. The latest models of smartphones include additional features and provide a better user experience.

Buying Criteria for New Smartphones

  • According to a research study in April 2020, the most important factor that determines the selection of a new smartphone is the features it sports. Whenever a new smartphone is launched, it always comes with a few upgrades and innovative features. Some people want to try different smartphone brands to enjoy the new experience that each brand has to provide. However, before making the decision to switch from one brand to another, it is always better to do your own research and find out what features you want to use most.
  • Moreover, the statistics of a phone are also important while picking out a new smartphone. However, the factors vary among different consumer age groups. For instance, people who fall into the age group of 25 to 44 years look for innovative features in a smartphone, while people who fall under into the age group of 18 to 24 usually look for the best specifications.  

Switching Preference of Smartphone Brands

  • At least 24% of smartphone users in India prefer switching to Samsung as their next smartphone device. Samsung is basically an upgrade from any other phone due to its high-tech features and brand image.
  • The brand preference for Samsung has increased by 6% over the years. Xiaomi has also become a widely accepted brand, and most people even switch from Samsung to Xiaomi, mainly due to the value for money.

Benefits of Smartphone Usage in India

  • According to a study among Indian smartphone users, the majority of people mentioned that smartphones help them find the right information quickly and easily. At times, smartphones even help to increase their knowledge and understanding of certain things. Plus, the quality of life significantly improved in India by at least 78%, thanks to the use of smartphone technology.
  • Apart from making phone calls and texting, smartphones are also used for navigating the way through GPS, play music, keep track of important appointments and dates, and staying connected via social media. In 2018, 54% of participants aged 18 to 24 used their smartphones for navigation.

Some of the most popular smartphone activities in India include texting, emailing, using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, WhatsApp, etc., online shopping, and photography. However, the use of activities depends on the age group and gender.

Young people mostly like to spend time on social media and online shopping, whereas older people usually prefer using smartphones to stay connected to their friends, colleagues, and family via email, texting, or phone calls.

  • In 2018, 4% of the participants used their smartphones to play games.
  • In 2018, 4% of the participants used their smartphones to search for product information.
  • In 2018, 15% of the participants used the search engine on their smartphones.
  • In 2018, 16% of the participants used their smartphones to watch a video.
  • In 2018, 21% of the participants used their smartphones to visit a social network.

Market Share of Mobile Operating Systems in India

Till the year 2019, Android was the most popular operating system in India and held about 91% of the market.

The current market share of Android in India is 96.28%, followed by iOS at 2.69%.  

Android’s closest rivals were Nokia and Symbian, as they held about 95.23% of the market share in 2020. However, these operating systems are no longer popular. Apple is not yet in close competition in the operating system market even though it has been growing steadily.

Smartphone Users in the World vs India

The total number of smartphone users in India is estimated to reach up to 800 million by the end of 2021.

In comparison, the number of smartphone users around the world is estimated to reach 3.8 billion by the end of 2021.

Conclusion

India is one of the most populous countries in the world, and it is projected to surpass the global usage of mobile phones in the coming years. As of now, despite the increase in the Indian population, the US is still ahead in the use of smartphones. Currently, Samsung is leading the pack in the mobile market and is projected to grow at an even faster rate in the future.

Smartphone users in India will increase as more and more people will learn to use smartphones as the technology becomes common in rural areas. Most smartphone manufacturers focus on efficient promotional strategies to engage their customers and convince them to buy their phones. Some manufacturers also bring out low-cost models that are affordable and user friendly, which means that the percentage of smartphone users in India will continue to rise.

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