Google’s Android is by far the most popular smartphone OS in India, with a record 97% market share at the end of Q2.
Of the 30.7 million smartphones sold over the three month period – representing a year-on-year growth of 19% - 28.9 million of these were Android devices, up from 23.2 million in the same period last year. This 28% growth rate has taken the market share for Google’s OS from 90% to 97%.
Meanwhile, Apple’s share fell from 4.5% to 2.4% of total smartphone shipments, with around 0.8 million iPhones sold during the quarter – down 35% from the same quarter last year.
Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston noted that Android’s “deep portfolio of hardware partners, extensive distribution channels and a wide range of low-cost apps like Gmail” meant that it “looks unbeatable right now” in India.
After China and the US, India is the world’s third largest smartphone market. Low penetration rates and growing middle class – as well as strong competition among operators, vendors and retailers- are resulting in swift growth for higher-end devices.
