Samsung edges past Xiaomi to regain top spot in Indian smartphone segment

Samsung

Samsung is back at the top of the Indian smartphone segment edging out Xiaomi in the process, a new report by research firm Counterpoint has revealed. However, the reason why Samsung might still be holding back on celebrating the feat is that the lead is just too thin, 29 percent market share compared to 28 percent for Xiaomi.

The above figures apply to the April – June quarter with Xiaomi getting to rule the roost for just two quarters prior to that. In fact, there might still be some ambiguity so far as the market share of the two companies are concerned. As BGR mentioned, another report by market research firm Canalys claimed Xiaomi to have a lead of 0.02 percent over Samsung during the second quarter. According to the Canalys report, Xiaomi’s market share came to 30.4 percent while Samsung trailed close behind with 30.02 percent share of the market.

While the findings of the two independent market research firms might be a bit contradicting, what seems to be amply clear is that the race for the top slot of the smartphone market in India is now fraught with more competition than ever before. Also, what is evident is that Samsung did make a recovery of sorts after falling behind the Chinese company by a few percentage points during the last few quarters.

And the reason behind the recovery can be attributed to a slew of launches in the affordable entry-level to mid-range smartphone segment in India. In fact, the affordable entry-level phone segment in the sub Rs. 15k price bracket happens to be the busiest segment that drives the maximum volumes. Samsung successfully managed to create a buzz in the segment with new launches in the J-series.

Phones like the new Galaxy J2 and Galaxy J4 that are both slotted in the affordable segment and has been well received in the market. The other reasons the two phones scored high on sales chart is that those featured some of the most popular features that buyers are seeking the most in new launches at the moment. Those include dual rear cameras, more expansive front displays as exemplified by Samsung’s Infinity Display, facial unlock feature and so on.

IDC meanwhile has predicted double digit growth for the Indian smartphone segment, which means plenty of action still left. Stay tuned!

About the author

Sovan Mandal

A keen tech enthusiast who loves to keep a tab on the tech scene, with special emphasis on things like smartphones, tablets, laptops, convertibles and such. Cars happen to be his other passion, not to mention the recent trend here comprising of electric cars and autonomous cars. Off late, he has also started tinkering a bit with stuff like electronic circuits, electric motors a bit though he's just a novice there.