Apple’s focus on India pays off: Over 3 Million iPhones Shipped in India for Q1 2025

Apple achieves record First-Quarter iPhone Shipments in India

Apple appears set to smash its previous first-quarter sales records in India, signalling strong momentum in one of its most crucial and rapidly expanding markets. Preliminary estimates from market intelligence firm IDC suggest the tech giant shipped over 3 million iPhones in the country during the first three months of 2025.

Join the Whatsapp Channel to Get News updates in english

Record Shipments

This impressive figure marks a substantial increase from the 2.21 million units shipped in the same period last year (Q1 2024). According to Upasna Joshi, research manager at IDC India, surpassing the 3 million mark represents Apple's largest-ever first-quarter shipments in India. She attributed this surge, resulting in "high double-digit growth," partly to effective affordability schemes like No Cost EMIs, cashback offers, and discounts available through online retailers.

Significantly, Apple achieved this milestone even as the broader Indian smartphone market faced challenges. IDC data from January and February 2025 indicated an overall market decline of 8.1% year-on-year, with major players like Samsung and Vivo seeing shipments drop by 19.5% and 2.7%, respectively. In contrast, Apple recorded the fastest growth among the top brands at 36.1%, according to IDC's Aditya Rampal, outpacing even competitors like Oppo (14.3% growth) and Realme (5.3% growth).

iPhone 16 Series

The primary driver behind Apple's strong performance is reportedly the newly launched iPhone 16 series, including the more budget-conscious iPhone 16e model. These latest models accounted for more than half of Apple's total shipments in the quarter. Joshi noted this represents a shift from 2024, where older models like the iPhone 15 and 13 were dominant sales drivers, particularly during festive seasons.

Strategic Investments

This record quarter builds upon Apple's consistent growth trajectory in India. In 2024, India became Apple’s fourth-largest global market, with record shipments reaching 12 million units (a 35% year-on-year increase). The company also broke into India's top five smartphone brands by volume for the first time in Q4 2024, securing a 10% market share.

Analysts anticipate this momentum will continue throughout 2025. IDC forecasts Apple's total iPhone shipments in India could reach 13-14 million units for the year, outpacing the overall market growth. Counterpoint Research similarly projects a strong 10-15% year-on-year growth rate for Apple in 2025, further solidifying its leadership in the premium segment and its position among the top five brands overall.

Apple's sales success is intertwined with its deepening commitment to the Indian market. The company is aggressively expanding its local manufacturing capabilities through partners like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Jabil. It's also boosting its retail footprint, with four new stores planned for Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai, adding to its existing workforce of over 3,000 employees. Furthermore, Apple is looking to diversify local production beyond iPhones, with AirPods manufacturing expected to commence soon, potentially followed by iPads and MacBooks. This investment strategy is reflected in Apple India's strong FY24 financial performance, which saw revenue grow 36% to Rs 67,121.6 crore and net profit rise 23% to Rs 2,745.7 crore.

Apple's record-breaking start to 2025 highlights the effectiveness of its diverse strategy in India – combining appealing products, smart affordability initiatives, and significant local investment – positioning the company for sustained growth in this vital market.