Apple's India strategy pays off: Dominant Q3 performance and growing exports
New Delhi: Apple Inc. has recorded its highest-ever quarterly shipments to India, sending 4.9 million iPhones to the country during the July–September quarter of 2025 (Q3 CY25), riding high on the success of its new iPhone 17 series and festive season demand.
According to research firm Omdia, this represents a 47 per cent year-on-year growth and marks Apple’s strongest performance in the Indian market to date. India accounted for 9 per cent of Apple’s total global iPhone shipments in the quarter, the highest share ever for the country, highlighting its growing importance in the company’s global strategy.
The launch of the iPhone 17 series on September 9 played a key role in driving record sales. The new lineup features major camera upgrades, including a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra-Wide lens, alongside a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion. The device is powered by the new A19 chip for enhanced performance and features Ceramic Shield 2 technology, offering three times better scratch resistance and reduced glare.
Analysts expect Apple to post its highest-ever festive quarter in India this year, forecasting a 28 per cent increase in sales compared to last year, driven by the early popularity of the iPhone 17 series.
This milestone comes alongside another major achievement for the Cupertino-based company: record iPhone exports from India. Between April and September of the current financial year, Apple shipped iPhones worth approximately $10 billion (over Rs 88,500 crore), a 75 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to industry estimates.
The success reflects the strong push of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, which have encouraged Apple to expand its manufacturing base in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. A majority of iPhones produced in India this year, nearly 78 per cent, were exported to the US, up from 53 per cent a year earlier.
IANS