Not long ago, buying an iPhone in India was considered a luxury. The brand was often rejected as out of access to the public, which is only reserved for a small circle of rich buyers in the metros. For 2025, fast forward, and the story has changed dramatically. The iPhone now accounts for 8 percent of India’s smartphone market, which makes Apple one of the top players of a country that was once seen as a difficult battle for the company.

A stable climb in the share

Apple tells the story of the number one brand that has increased brick from brick in India. By keeping just 1 percent of the market in 2019, the share of the iPhone increased to about 4.6 percent by 2022, touched 6 percent in the first half of 2023, and the market intelligence firm, according to Cyber ​​Media Research (CMR), closed the year at about 7 percent. According to IDC and Counterpoint, as an entry into the top five smartphone vendors in India, according to the IDC and Counterpoint, the 2024 festivals October -December -December The 2024 quarter pushed Apple to 9–10 percent stake by the 2024 quarter. In 2025, the pace continues, the IDC reported 7.5 percent market share in Q2 behind 5.9 million shipments in the first half of the year, while Counterpoint says that the price of Apple has increased by 23 percent in the same period, which is showing a strong hold of the brand in the premium section.

What has changed for apples in India?

So, what did the iPhone change for a mainstream aspiration from a niche option? Analysts point to a combination of smart timing and carefully designed offers. Trade-in schemes, cashback partnerships with banks, and EMI plans have made it possible for more Indians to buy an iPhone without heavy advance costs.

Festival discounts and online deals have also played a big role. IDC Research Director Upasana Joshi told Money Control, “Apple set a record by entering the top five seller list for the Indian smartphone market in Q4 2024.” “Festival exemption left the 24-coast no-cost EMI such as offering strength as well as this development, which ran in 2024 and emerged as one of the leading factors for this bounce.”

But strength is not the only reason. There has also been a major change in the Indian market itself. Tarun Pathak, the research director of the Counterpoint, said, “There has been a significant increase in the premium smartphone segment in India. The growing middle class, especially with the growing disposable income and aspirational purchase among the youth, has become a brand of choice for young consumers.”

From online store to retail push

Another twist came when Apple strengthened his presence on the ground. Its online store came to India in 2020, but the real discussion began in 2023 when Tim Cook personally launched Apple’s first two official retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi. The enthusiasm was translated into long queues and heavy footfalls, and the sale quickly followed.

Apple has since opened two more stores this year – in Bangalore and Pune – and in cities like Noida and Mumbai. Cook has already indicated that these outlets perform higher than expectations.

India at the center of Apple’s plans

The country is no longer a big market for Apple. It is also an increasing base for manufacturing. Bloomberg has reported that one in five iPhones are now made in India, in which production spreads in many factories. This helps Apple to reduce its dependence on China, while aligns with the government’s “Make in India” vision.

What is more, India is now included in the first wave of global iPhone launch. Earlier, Indian buyers had to wait for weeks for the new model, often fuel the gray market. But now, the latest iPhones come to Indian shops the same day they debut in the US and Europe, increase official sales and consumer trust.

A color that turns head

This year, the new cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro has become a matter of the city. The nickname “saffron iPhone” by some buyers, the variant has sold in official stores. Dealers from Delhi and Noida told India Today Tech that they are charging immediate delivery, only between Rs 5,000 and 25,000 for cash-only. The craze shows how the demand for iPhones in India is beyond facilities. It is about the owner of a statement piece.

One billion-dollar bet

All this has added to record sales. Bloomberg recently reported that Apple’s annual revenue in India touched $ 9 billion in the previous financial year, which was 13 percent from the previous year. With new stores, eager to upgrade more local production, and a growing middle class, Apple sees India as one of its most promising markets worldwide.

High import duties still create iPhones pricier in India as compared to markets like America, but Apple has succeeded in softening that barrier through financing and exemption. A phone was once a “very expensive” for the average Indian buyer which has now become a mainstream option and the number suggests that Apple’s best days in India may still be ahead.