India’s ultra premium smartphone market witnessing intensified competition; 60-80% growth likely driven by Apple

NEW DELHI: The ultra-premium smartphone segment is witnessing intensified competition with established players Apple, Samsung and OnePlus vying with new entrants like Vivo for a greater share of consumer wallets in the festive season.

The over $700 segment is expected to surge 60-80% on-year in 2021 on pent-up demand, market trackers said, as consumers who did not upgrade their smartphone in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic que up to buy expensive devices.

“The significant growth in these segments can be attributed to increased consumer spending on luxury/costly product segments, re-allocating spends from holidays, shopping, travel, dine out etc,” Navkendar Singh, research director at market insights firm IDC, told ET. “We expect this momentum to only grow further in the upcoming festive season, driven by upgraders within premium and from the $500-$700 segment.”