Xiaomi pips Samsung to become India’s first choice in handsets

NEW DELHI: Xiaomi has emerged the country’s top handset maker in the December quarter, outselling Samsung in the smartphone plus featurephone market for the first time, data from market intelligence provider International Data Corporation shows.

The Chinese phonemaker topped the overall handset market with 16% share in the quarter, trailed by Samsung and Reliance Retail, IDC said on Friday. It didn’t give the figures for the second and third players.

The Korean brand also slipped behind Apple’s iPhone in the premium segment of $500 and more.

Xiaomi India head and global vice president Manu Jain claimed the brand’s smartphone sales have surpassed Samsung and Reliance Retail’s feature phones and smartphones put together.