Samsung boosts presence in Indian smartphone market to 20% in Q1

Samsung Electronics Co. expanded its presence in the Indian smartphone market in the first quarter of the year to 20 percent from 16 percent a year earlier on the back of multiple new handsets and by its focus on the budget segment.

The South Korean tech giant took the runner-up spot in the Indian smartphone market but narrowed the gap with top player Xiaomi Corp., a Chinese brand whose market share dipped to 26 percent from 31 percent in the previous year.

Three other Chinese brands made it in the top five, with Vivo coming in third with 16 percent, and Realme and Oppo each with 11 percent.

But it was Samsung that posted the highest on-year growth in smartphone shipments in the first quarter.

Samsung launched its latest flagship Galaxy S21 series while refreshing its A-series with the A32, A52, and A72, and the M-series with its M12.

Smartphone shipments to India expanded 23 percent on-year to reach over 38 million units in the first quarter of 2021, marking the highest ever for the first quarter.

Samsung recaptured the top position in India's mobile handset market, including the feature phone segment, with a 19 percent share, edging Xiaomi's 16 percent.

India's feature phone market posted a 14 percent year-on-year growth in the first quarter.