India’s smartphone sales fell 26% despite the festive season:3.58 crore phones sold, lowest in 10 years, as higher chip costs push up prices

Despite the festive season, sales of new smartphones in India fell 26% over the past three months. According to market research firm ‘Omdia’, a total of 3.58 crore phones were sold across the country between July and September. This was the lowest figure for any quarter in the past 10 years, since 2016. The sharp rise in smartphone prices and people using their old phones for longer are believed to be the main reasons.
Samsung sold the most phones at 6.7 million, while Apple ranked 5th Samsung once again secured the top position by selling 6.7 million phones across India in the third quarter of 2026 (July to September). After two and a half years, Samsung reclaimed the No. 1 spot, a position it last held in Q1 2024. Its affordable phones, such as the Galaxy A07, A17, and A27, along with strong demand for its premium smartphones, contributed to this growth. Easy instalment options and exchange offers also helped boost sales.