India is the world's second-biggest smartphone market, and it is quite important for Samsung. Although the South Korean firm has been the number one brand globally for years, it has been slipping in the Indian market over the past few years. After losing its second position to Vivo in the previous quarter, Samsung has been able to regain it in Q3 2020.
According to the latest report from market research firm Canalys, Samsung shipped 10.2 million smartphones to India, up from 9.5 million units in Q3 2019. The South Korean firm's market share was 20.4%, and it trailed behind Xiaomi, which shipped 13.1 million smartphones and grabbed a 26.1% share of the market during the same quarter. Compared to Q2 2020, when the Indian smartphone market took a huge hit due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Samsung has been able to more than triple its shipments.
The South Korean smartphone giant also regained its number two position from Vivo. According to researchers at Canalys, Indian consumers refrained from making high-value purchases during the third quarter and stuck to buying smartphones as they provide connectivity, education, and entertainment for a relatively lower cost compared to other electronics such as computers, laptops, and TVs.
Despite calls for boycotting of Chinese smartphones due to border tensions between Indian and China, Chinese firms accounted for 76% of smartphone shipments in the country. Vivo, Realme, and OPPO, all subsidiaries of parent firm BBK Electronics, shipped 8.8 million, 8.1 million, and 6.7 million devices. Apple shipped just 800,000 units in the country during the third quarter, less than 10% of Samsung's numbers. Even OnePlus failed to enter the list of top five smartphone brands.
