- According to a report from Counterpoint, the Indian smartphone market just hit a quarterly record.
- The industry was boosted by companies like Samsung, Oppo, and OnePlus.
- The OnePlus Nord is now the best-selling device in the upper-mid-tier segment.
Smartphone makers probably won’t see 2020 as a good sales year, but there are now signs of recovery in some regions and for some OEMs. According to an investigation by Counterpoint, the Indian smartphone market rebounded to record quarterly shipments in the third quarter of 2020.
53 million units were shipped in the third quarter of 2020 in India, up 9% year-over-year. However, this growth was not driven by demand for flagships. The Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 sector (~ $ 135 to $ 270) posted its strongest growth and largest market share in the quarter.
Users willing to spend a little more are also buying a particular device. The OnePlus Nord is now the best-selling phone in the Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000 (~ $ 270- $ 400) segment, according to the report. The firm also anchored its position as the leading brand in the “affordable premium segment” with the OnePlus 8.
Xiaomi vs Samsung in India
Looking at the big picture, two firms rule the roost: Xiaomi and Samsung. The counterpoint suggests that Xiaomi lost its title as India’s leading smartphone OEM in Q3 2020. It now owns 23% of the market, compared to 26% year-over-year. Samsung takes its place by a sliver, going from a market share of 20% in Q3 2019 to 24% in Q3 2020. Overall, the Korean firm saw 32% year-on-year growth in India, while that Xiaomi experienced 4%. decrease.
In particular, Canalys disputes this claim. Their recent research points to Xiaomi retaining its top spot by some margin in Q3 2020 with a 26% market share. Samsung lags behind by a 6% margin.
Finally, the other BBK firms also experienced widespread growth according to Counterpoint. Vivo grew 4% year over year and remained the third largest smartphone brand in India. Realme saw a 52% year-over-year increase in the mid tier, reportedly driven by the Realme 6 and Realme 7 lines. Lastly, Oppo saw a 30% year-on-year increase in shipments in India, driven largely by demand of your inexpensive devices.
It’s unclear whether the industry’s growth, and Samsung’s growth, will continue into the next quarter. Considering that 2019 ended with Chinese brands racking up huge growth in India, it will be a challenge for the Korean firm to maintain its top spot in 2021.
read more: The Best Android Phones You Can Buy In India
