Xiaomi, Lenovo climb India's smart phone market as local players falter

India’s smart phone market grew by over 20 per cent year on year in Q3 2016 as shipments broke the 30 million mark. Samsung’s shipments grew in line with the market, meaning it continued to lead with a share of just over 20 per cent. Shipments from local players Micromax, Intex and Lava all fell year on year, allowing Lenovo to move above Micromax and into second place for the first time, while Xiaomi took fourth place, more than doubling its Q2 2016 shipments. India has now clearly emerged as a growth opportunity for Xiaomi outside of its home market.

‘Indian consumers are increasingly looking past local players’ smart phones in favour of international brands. There is ongoing portfolio consolidation as local players change their product strategies, emphasizing the 4G-enabled models that are now becoming mainstream. Besides having a strong LTE portfolio, channel strategy is increasingly important for smart phone success. Lenovo’s focus on offline channels and Xiaomi’s move away from being an online-only vendor have clearly helped. Xiaomi’s shipments grew by almost 170 per cent year on year, with its strongest quarter taking it to fourth place in an increasingly competitive market,’ said Rushabh Doshi, Canalys Analyst. ‘Despite its smart phone shipments halving, Micromax held onto third place, but it is coming under pressure from Xiaomi and fifth-placed Lyf.’