Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission.Learn more.
Indian smartphone shipments reach record high in Q3 2020 after lockdown lows
June 23, 2025
Indian smartphone shipments dropped byalmost 50%in Q2 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This made for historic lows in the market, but it looks like Q3 2020 has given us a record high.
Tracking firm Canalys reported that smartphone shipments in India reached 50 million units in Q3 2020. This is an all-time record according to the firm, growing 8% year-on-year. Back in Q3 2019, India reportedly saw shipments of 46.2 million units.
Canalys analyst Adwait Mardikar explained that reduced lockdown restrictions have “created the perfect atmosphere for sustained growth.” He added that online channels are also winning big with plenty of devices launching ahead of the festive season.
Canalys research analyst Varun Kannan also noted that Chinese brands accounted for 74% of Indian shipments in Q3 2020, making for a small change from 76% a year ago. This comes despitehigh-profile tensionsbetween India and China in 2020.
As for manufacturer rankings,Xiaomicame out on top in the quarter. The brand grew from 12 million shipments and 25.9% marketshare a year ago to 13.1 million shipments and 26.1% marketshare in Q3 2020.
Second-placedSamsungdelivered 10.2 million units (20.4% marketshare) in the quarter, compared to 9.5 million units (20.6% share) a year ago. Rounding out the top five wereVivo(8.8 million units),Realme(8.7 million), andOppo(6.1 million).
It might not be reflected in the table above, but Canalys also noted that Apple delivered double-digit growth in India, delivering nearly 800,000 units. It attributed the growth to its new online store and associated promotions (e.g. trade-ins, bundling AirPods). The tracking firm nevertheless cautioned that theiPhone 12 seriescould be a tough sell in the market due to the lack of 5G networks and a less-than-ideal pricing strategy.
Next:The best Android smartphones worth buying in India
Thank you for being part of our community. Read ourComment Policybefore posting.
