Apple’s iPhone 16 Tops Smartphone Sales in India
Apple’s local manufacturing and financing options drive record sales, outpacing Android rivals
New Delhi, Dec 30: Apple’s iPhone 16 emerged as the highest selling smartphone in India in 2025, with about 6.5 million units sold in the first 11 months, according to Counterpoint Research. The iPhone 15 also made it to the top five best sellers, highlighting Apple’s dominance over Android competitors.
The surge in sales reflects a shift in consumer preferences in a market traditionally dominated by entry level and mid-range devices. Apple’s strategic expansion of local manufacturing, reducing reliance on China, has played a key role in this growth. The company now operates five Apple Stores in India, including three new locations in Bengaluru, Pune, and Noida.
Financing options such as no cost EMIs, cashbacks, and bank schemes have made premium iPhones more accessible to Indian consumers. Apple shipped iPhones worth $2 billion from India in November alone, marking the highest value of exports from the country.
Domestic sales also hit a record $9 billion in FY25, with one in every five iPhones manufactured or assembled globally now coming from India. Local assembly of high-end Pro and Pro Max models began for the first time, contributing 12% of Apple’s global production value.
Apple’s growing India operations have also strengthened exports to major markets like the Americas, which accounted for $178.4 billion nearly 43% of Apple’s global revenue in FY25. The iPhone 16’s success underscores Apple’s increasing footprint in India as both a manufacturing hub and a key consumer market.
