Before buying a new smartphone, among the first few things that we consider is the brand. Brand names play a very important role in determining the smartphone that we choose. We have a diverse range of mobile phone brands in India with every brand offering smartphones in a varying price range. Some smartphone brands have been in the market for a long time now, and some recently made their appearance. And, with India being one of the largest smartphone selling country, the competition between at the top 10 mobile phone brands in India is two-fold. Interestingly, the smartphone shipments grew by 24% in India during the Q3 2018, surpassing countries like the US and China. This boost in smartphone shipments has been driven due to the strong performance of Xiaomi and Samsung.
It is also safe to add that out of these top 10 mobile phone brands in India, the top five brands captured 77% market share during the third quarter. According to Counterpoint Research, the following is the Indian smartphone shipment market share for the top 5 smartphone brands. The table given below is a comparison of the market share of the leading smartphone companies in Q3 and Q2 2018.
| Smartphone Company | Market share Q3 2018 | Market share Q2 2018 | Market share Q1 2018 |
| Xiaomi | 27% | 28% | 31% |
| Samsung | 23% | 29% | 26% |
| Vivo | 10% | 12% | 6% |
| Oppo | 8% | 10% | 6% |
| Huawei | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Others | 23% | 20% | 28% |
Here is a graph by Counterpoint Research showing the Indian smartphone market share by top vendors from Q1 2016 – Q3 2018.
Now, let’s take a look at the top 10 mobile phone brands in India
Xiaomi Mobiles
Within a span of few short years, Xiaomi has soon made a place for itself among the top leading smartphone brands in the country. In fact, Xiaomi has managed to surpass Samsung, which had secured its position on the top for years. The brand is leading the Indian market with a 27% share in Q3 2018. Comparatively, Xiaomi was at 22% market share during the Q3 2017 last year. Additionally, launching its sub-brand ‘Pocophone’ has also helped Xiaomi maintain its lead in the Indian smartphone market.
The USP of Xiaomi mobiles is their affordable price tags and latest features, which makes them the most preferred option among users. This Chinese brand rose to the top for designing smartphones with amazing features at unbeatable prices. Xiaomi is acknowledged across the globe for its Redmi series smartphones. Some of the popular Xiaomi smartphones include Redmi 6 Pro, Mi A2, Mi 6X and much more.
Samsung Mobiles
Not just the top 10 mobile phone brands in India, Samsung is also one of the top-leading brands when it comes to electronics and home appliances. However, Samsung has been overtaken by Xiaomi as the leading smartphone brand in India and has slipped to the second position. The famous south-Korean brand accounts for 23% market share during the third quarter of 2018. Together, Xiaomi and Samsung hold 50% market share in the country.
The brand is well-known for its Galaxy series of smartphones. Right from affordable to high-end smartphones, the brand offers a wide range of mobile phones for all types of price range. The list includes smartphones like Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 Plus, Galaxy A7 and Galaxy A9 (world’s first quadruple camera smartphone). Samsung is also all geared to launch the world’s first foldable smartphone in 2019.
Vivo Mobiles
Chinese smartphone company Vivo has also retained its position in the smartphone market for a long time now. According to the Q3 shipments, Vivo currently holds 10% market share in India. The company has received a boost in shipments this year because of its famous V series smartphones – V11 and V11 Pro that had launched earlier in 2018.
Vivo is currently focusing on good camera mobiles with cutting edge technology. Along with great camera specifications, Vivo smartphones also provide perfect sound quality and support for intensive gaming. Buyers also prefer Vivo because the brand offers amazing Android smartphones in a mid-range price segment. Some of the popular Vivo smartphones in the current date are Vivo V9, Vivo V11 and Vivo Y81.
Oppo Mobiles
Oppo has been on the list of the top 10 mobile phone brands in India for quite a couple of years now. It is another brand on the list which is popular for designing mid-range and affordable smartphones. This Chinese brand has managed to maintain its position in the market with 8% market share in Q3 2018. However, the brand will have to double its efforts if it wants to maintain its position in the top 5 leading mobile phone brands in India.
Additionally, Oppo is also recognized for its amazing selfie-centric camera mobiles. Along with great camera features, Oppo mobiles also offer smooth performance, sleek & lightweight designs and unique features. The Oppo R17 and Oppo F9 are currently the top trending smartphones offered by the brand.
Huawei Mobiles
Not just the Top 10 mobile phone brands in India, Huawei has also entered among the top 5 mobile phone brands in India, all thanks to its Honor series of smartphones. It is Huawei’s sub-brand Honor that has managed to grab the attention of the buyers. Huawei has grabbed 3% market share in India, which is comparatively less compared to the other brands mentioned above. Nevertheless, in spite of its low market share in India, Huawei stands on the second position globally and holds 33% market share.
Honor smartphones are designed with features and specifications mostly seen on high-end smartphones at affordable prices. Huawei and Honor mobile phones offer 100% value for your money. Not just India, the brand is slowly making a place for itself in other markets as well. If you are looking for a budget smartphones with all the latest features, Huawei offers Honor 8X, Honor 9n, Huawei Y7 Pro and much more.
Apple iPhones
Apple iPhones are easily among the most expensive smartphones across the country. In fact, the brand is widely popular for its high-end devices In spite of its competitive pricing, Apple iPhones have a huge fan following. The brand designs phones with unparallel features, smooth interface, graphics and classy looks. It is the one brand that gives an equal competition to all the other Android-based smartphones.
However, over the years, Apple’s market share has reduced by a considerable margin in India. The brand holds less than 3% market share in India. Apple saw a little improvement in its shares after the launch of iPhone XR. Recently, the company launched its Apple iPhone XR which is considered as the cheapest iPhone by the company till date.
A graph showing the Indian Premium smartphone market share between Apple, Samsung and OnePlus.
OnePlus Mobiles
Established in 2013, the simple motto of the company was to design a better smartphone. Over the last couple of years in the market, OnePlus has managed to create a positive buzz. In fact, OnePlus is currently leading in the premium smartphone segment. Thanks to the competitively priced OnePlus 6, the brand has managed to grab more sales than Samsung and Apple’s premium smartphones. The global premium smartphone market is currently dominated by Samsung and Apple. But, it is not long before, OnePlus takes over the hold.
The brand launches two smartphones each year to compete with all the other Android smartphones in the market. OnePlus smartphones come with some of the best features seen on Android smartphones along with classy looks and smooth user experience. OnePlus highlights its smartphones by incorporating high-end features and design in a mid-range budget. Moreover, it is also rumoured that the upcoming OnePlus 7 might be the first 5G phone to make its debut.
Realme Mobiles
Oppo’s sub-brand Realme has also made it to the list of top 10 mobile phone brands in India since its launch back in mid-2018. In a couple of months, Realme has already launched four smartphones in India namely – Realme 1, Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro and Realme C1. All the smartphones fit the affordable or mid-range budget. As of now, the brands market shares are not known. But, the brand announced on its Twitter page that it has successfully shipped more than 1 million smartphones in this quarter.
Realme smartphones are the perfect pick for everyone looking for a durable smartphone with a reasonably affordable price tag. Currently, the brand is rumoured to be working on its next smartphone called the Realme 3.
Motorola Mobiles
Lenovo-owned Motorola is also one of the finest brands that offer great smartphones in India. Motorola is one of the few brands that has managed to make its place in the top 10 mobile phone brands during the Q3 2018. Unlike all the other brands on the list, Motorola phones offer the Stock Android experience which ensures users of timely and regular software updates. The user experience on Motorola smartphones is pretty neat and easy. The Motorola G6, Moto X4 and Moto One Power are some of the best smartphones offered by the brand.
Nokia Mobiles
Nokia was once the top leading smartphone brand in the Indian market to introduce the world of mobile phones in the country. Even after all these years, Nokia is still considered among the top 10 mobile phone brands in India. The brand holds market shares for its classic feature phones that are known for their durability. Globally, Nokia holds the 9th position with 4.8 million shipments in Q3 2018. Nokia smartphones come with inexpensive price tags and a long and healthy battery life. The brand recently launched Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1, Nokia 5.1, and Nokia 6.1 smartphones. All these smartphones are reasonably priced.
