Smartphone Brand Rankings for Q1 2025: Full Analysis and Market Insights

The ranking of smartphone brands for the first quarter of 2025 has been released. In this article, I will cover all the brands, including those not in the top 10 positions, so make sure to read till the end. One thing I can tell you upfront is that most smartphone brands have experienced a drop in their rankings this time around. This is largely due to the fact that smartphone sales in Q1 2025 fell by 5.5%, impacting every company in the market.

Starting with the 10th position, we find iQOO. Yes, iQOO is at number 10, and interestingly, Vivo is not included in this position. iQOO was performing quite well up until last year, but compared to last year, it has seen a 28% decline. The main reason behind this decline is that iQOO relies heavily on online sales, and online sales have taken a serious hit. To put some numbers on this, offline sales now hold a 58% market share, while online sales have dropped to 42%. This shift has affected companies focused on online sales quite heavily.

Almost all companies focusing primarily on online sales have experienced declines, with very few exceptions. For iQOO, this means that unless it expands into the offline market alongside online sales, it risks being confined to a niche or smaller markets. However, there is a positive note: iQOO’s Z series phones continue to perform well in the market. On the other hand, some series, such as the iQOO 13 and the Neo series, have received a weak response from consumers. Apart from the Z series, no other iQOO series has been successful so far, which remains a major challenge for the brand.

Moving on, OnePlus holds the 9th position with a market share of just 2.4%, only 0.1% higher than iQOO. What is particularly alarming about OnePlus is its decline of 55%. OnePlus has been declining for five consecutive quarters, which is very concerning. While a quarter or two of decline could be temporary, a year-long decline signals serious trouble for the company. Though OnePlus has started initiatives like Project Starlight, there remains a threat to its market position.

Rumors suggest that OnePlus will not launch the Note 5 Lite this year and will no longer focus on phones priced below Rs 20,000. Instead, the company plans to target more expensive, premium phones starting with the OnePlus 13S. The strategy is to sell fewer phones but make more profit per device. Whether this approach will succeed remains to be seen.

In 8th place is Poco, which also saw a decline. Poco’s market share is approximately 4.3%, but it experienced a 31% year-on-year drop. One of the main reasons behind this is Poco’s weak performance in the new X series, which didn’t sell well. The phones in the C series, which are similar to Redmi’s offerings, also got a lukewarm response. Since more phones are selling offline rather than online, companies like Poco that rely heavily on online sales have been negatively impacted.

Another issue affecting Poco is the declining consumer trust in its HyperOS software, with reports of bugs and battery drain issues shaking confidence. However, Poco still has a chance to recover by releasing a new version of HyperOS and is reportedly planning the Poco F7 series launch for India. If the right product is introduced at the right price, Poco could regain significant market traction.

In 7th position is a company performing very well in India’s online segment — Motorola. It has shown the highest growth in the online market with a 54% increase and holds about a 7.5% market share. Motorola has been launching phones like the Razr and the H series, but the G series is currently its most successful lineup.

Motorola’s strategy of offering product specifications that align well with pricing is attracting buyers. Its aggressive online advertising and marketing efforts are also paying off. However, there are two potential negatives: if Motorola reduces advertising spend in the future, it may see a sales drop, and its continued heavy focus on online sales may hurt as that market shrinks. Offline sales remain crucial for sustained growth.

Many Motorola users have complained about poor after-sales service, delayed software updates, and unresolved bugs. If Motorola fails to address these issues, it risks losing its loyal customers to competitors despite currently offering good product options. It will be interesting to see how Motorola manages to sustain its growth long term.

The 6th position belongs to Xiaomi, which has seen a surprising decline. Xiaomi, including its Redmi brand, holds a 7.8% market share but has experienced a 42% drop. The Redmi Note 14 series failed to sell well, as did other Redmi phones. Surprisingly, the most successful Redmi phone currently is the Redmi 14C.

A significant problem for Xiaomi is that it has not been able to change its brand perception. While Xiaomi aspires to be a premium brand and focus on profitability rather than volume, it still sells some phones under Rs 10,000. This pricing disconnect is confusing for consumers. Xiaomi needs to work on repositioning itself, but how long this will take is uncertain.

Though Xiaomi had many opportunities, it is slowly losing ground. If the company launches some standout phones, it could move up in the rankings because it still has a loyal fan base and has resolved many issues. The main problem is that Xiaomi raises phone prices without justifying the higher cost through better specs or features. As a result, their phones often appear overpriced.

If Xiaomi can offer phones with better specs, cameras, and overall quality at the same price, it could perform very well again. Otherwise, Xiaomi needs to rethink its strategy, focusing on premium offerings without selling low-end phones at high prices, which consumers are currently rejecting.

On the premium side, Apple is performing excellently. Surprisingly, Apple is in the 5th position, ahead of Xiaomi, with a 9.5% market share and a growth rate of 23%. The primary driver for Apple’s success is the iPhone 16, which is selling extremely well.

Though Apple is not the innovative force it was during Steve Jobs’ era, under Tim Cook, the company has become more successful commercially than ever before. Apple is making significant profits and expanding its presence in India. This growth indicates that Apple will compete strongly with major brands in the future.

A harsh reality is that many iPhone buyers in India purchase expensive Apple phones to appear wealthy, sometimes even going into debt through EMI plans and credit schemes. Apple capitalizes on this consumer behavior. Until the mindset shifts towards valuing practical savings over status symbols, Apple’s growth will likely continue.

In 4th place is Realme, a company known for launching numerous phones and dominating market trends. Realme holds a 10.6% market share with a growth rate of around 2.2%. Realme has expanded from an online-only presence to both online and offline sales, which supports its growth.

Though Realme receives criticism for flooding the market with many models, this strategy keeps it in 4th place ahead of Xiaomi and Poco. The majority of Realme’s sales come from phones priced around Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 segments. Its C series remains popular, and the Number series also gets decent responses.

The GT series, however, does not sell well unless prices drop significantly, such as some GT6 models selling below Rs 30,000. Realme’s market presence effectively caps at Rs 30,000, but it continues to sell many phones in that range.

Occupying the 3rd position is Oppo, a company focusing almost entirely on offline sales. Oppo holds a 12% market share and performs well in this segment. Oppo’s phones emphasize looks and design, often sacrificing processing power but delivering on camera quality, which appeals to offline consumers.

While Oppo has produced some good phones, many budget models lack special features, indicating room for improvement. Oppo’s success largely stems from marketing, advertising, and its offline focus.

Samsung remains strong in the 2nd position with a market share of 16.4%. Samsung sells flagship Galaxy S25 models, A-series, and M-series phones. However, Samsung faced challenges as the offline market gained dominance and the online market shrank, impacting its ability to claim the top spot.

To regain first place, Samsung needs to adjust its product offerings, price more aggressively, offer better specs, and consider shifting from Exynos to Snapdragon processors. The introduction of One UI 7 has also had a negative impact, with users reporting bugs and delays.

It will be important to see how Samsung addresses these issues to sustain itself in the long term, but its position in second place remains solid.

Finally, the 1st position belongs to Vivo, which holds the largest market share at 19.7%. Vivo is performing exceptionally well offline, selling many T-series and V-series phones, along with a few X-series models. Vivo is also gradually changing its brand perception in the market.