The Indian smartphone market is increasingly a two-horse race between Samsung and China’s Xiaomi, with both vendors shipping nearly 10 million devices each during the second quarter, according to research firm Canalys.
Together the two vendors accounted for 60% of total smartphone shipments in India during the quarter, up from 43% a year earlier.
Xiaomi more than doubled its shipments during the quarter, increasing its market share from 18% and overtaking Samsung in first place.
But the period also represented Samsung’s strongest year-on-year growth in the market since the fourth quarter of 2015, and saw the vendor increase its market share from 25% a year earlier.
Canalys analyst TuanAnh Nguyen said Samsung is fighting back with new devices pitted directly against Xiaomi’s portfolio in India.
“Despite Xiaomi’s growing popularity in India, Samsung will remain the first choice for consumers,” he said. “Its technological prowess and supply chain mastery will continue to give it an edge over Xiaomi for the foreseeable future.”
Third-ranked Vivo meanwhile shipped 3.6 million units – a year-on-year growth rate of 32% - but saw its market share decline from 13% a year ago to 11%.
Fourth place Oppo saw unit shipments increase 5% to 3.1 million units, with its market share growing from 9% to 10%.
As a result of the strong performance by the major handset vendors, the overall Indian smartphone market grew by 22% during the quarter to just under 33 million units, Canalys estimates.