India’s smartphone market has slowed significantly, with sales down in the July to September 2026 quarter. Higher smartphone prices and expensive memory are making it harder for people who want to buy affordable smartphones. Research shows smartphone sales dropped 20% compared with the same period last year.

Samsung, however, did the opposite. These numbers point to a festive season for smartphone manufacturers even as premium smartphones continue to attract attention. Here what it means to you:

India’s smartphone market contracted in the third quarter of 2026 as rising smartphone prices and cautious consumer spending weighed on shipments. According to Counterpoint Research, smartphone shipments fell 20% year‑on‑year between July and September, reaching the lowest third‑quarter level in ten years.

The slowdown comes as the festive season traditionally boosts smartphone sales. However, higher memory prices and rising smartphone costs appear to have made consumers more selective about upgrading.

Samsung emerged as the beneficiary of the changing smartphone market conditions, reclaiming the top position in India after nine quarters. Samsung secured a 17% smartphone market share, while several competing brands struggled to maintain shipment volumes.

Samsung came back to the top spot in India’s smartphone market in Q3 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s tracker. Samsung captured a 17% share of smartphone sales, driven by its Galaxy A phones and a steady store presence.

The Galaxy A phones kept driving sales, while Samsung’s top-line phones helped it stay strong in price categories. Samsung’s careful price increases and component cost management helped it beat the broader smartphone market.

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