In a remarkable feat, iPhone sales in India surpassed 1.5 million units during the first week of the festive season, marking a 25% year-on-year increase, according to a report released on Friday.
The festive season, spanning from October 8th to October 15th, witnessed an impressive 25% year-on-year increase in smartphone sales, with leading brands such as Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi driving the surge, as reported by Counterpoint Research.
Online sales channels, which had experienced a slower year overall, saw an unexpected surge in demand, prompting sellers to adjust prices upward starting from the third day of the festive sales week.
Notably, a whopping 80% of phones sold on major online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart in the first 48 hours were 5G-capable, underlining the growing consumer interest in advanced technology.
Flipkart reported a substantial 50% year-on-year growth in the premium segment, attributed to the popularity of the iPhone 14 and Galaxy S21 FE. In contrast, Amazon’s premium segment witnessed an astonishing 200% year-on-year growth, primarily due to the iPhone 13 and Galaxy S23 FE.
This year, the demand for the iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and iPhone 12 surged, in contrast to the previous year when the iPhone 13 took the lead. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was another success story, selling out on Flipkart within just two days of the sale.
The price segment of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 experienced a rapid shift towards 5G, thanks to several OEMs launching compatible devices just in time for the festive season. Notable bestsellers on Amazon included the Realme Narzo 60x 5G, Galaxy M14 5G, and M34 5G, while Flipkart’s top pick was the Vivo T2x.
The report highlighted that the strong demand for premium devices is expected to persist beyond the initial sales week. The availability of various financing and credit schemes, including per-day EMIs, has contributed to this trend.
Offline sales are also predicted to benefit from this strong consumer sentiment, with parity expected between offline and online discounts.
In conclusion, the report predicts a 7% year-on-year growth in terms of sales volume for this year’s festive season smartphone sales, with an impressive 15% year-on-year growth in the average selling price. This reaffirms India’s insatiable appetite for premium smartphones, especially during the festive season. Follow for more tech related updates!
