India Became the World's 3rd Largest Smartphone Market in Q1 2013

 

India overtook Japan to become the world's third largest smartphone market by volume for the first time ever in Q1 2013. Samsung, Micromax and Apple are among the major brands leading the Indian smartphone market, according to Strategy Analytics.

Linda Sui, Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, "We estimate 10.0 million smartphones were shipped in India during the first quarter of 2013, almost tripling from 3.8 million units a year earlier. India overtook Japan to become the world's third largest smartphone market by volume for the first time ever in Q1 2013, following China and the United States."

Neil Shah, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, "India is growing four times faster than the global average. Worldwide smartphone shipments expanded 39% year-over-year, compared with 163% YoY across India, during Q1 2013. The Indian smartphone market is rising quicker than China (86% YoY), Japan (24% YoY), the US (19% YoY) and almost all other major countries."

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "India is the new China. India is a low-penetration, high-growth market that no smartphone vendor, component maker or apps developer can afford to ignore. Key brands driving the smartphone boom in India include foreign firms such as Samsung and Apple. But it is domestic players who are seeing the fastest growth. For example, we estimate Micromax, Karbonn and Spice are growing between 200 and 500 percent on an annual basis."

India and Global Smartphone Shipments in Q1 2013

Global Smartphone Shipments (Millions of Units)	Q1 '12	Q1 '13
India	3.8	10.0
Rest of World	150.0	203.9
Total	153.8	213.9
Global Smartphone Shipments % of Total	Q1 '12	Q1 '13
India	2.5%	4.7%
Rest of World	97.5%	95.3%
Total	100.0%	100.0%
Global Smartphone Shipments Growth : Year-over-Year	Q1 '12	Q1 '13
India	~	163.2%
Rest of World	~	35.9%
Total	~	39.1%