The year 2025 proved to be a landmark period for the Indian smartphone market, witnessing an unprecedented flurry of launches across all price segments. From groundbreaking foldables to AI-powered cameras and performance beasts, major brands like Samsung, Apple, Google, and a host of Chinese manufacturers unveiled their flagship arsenals, giving consumers a wealth of choices.
Flagship Titans Define the Premium Segment
The battle for supremacy in the high-end market intensified with several key releases. Samsung strengthened its foldable dominance with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the Galaxy Z Flip7, while also updating its traditional flagship line with the Galaxy S25 series, including the top-tier S25 Ultra. Not to be outdone, Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 lineup, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max leading the charge with expected enhancements in performance and camera technology.
Google made significant waves with the Pixel 10 Pro, further leveraging its AI and computational photography expertise. The OnePlus 15 series and the OnePlus 13s continued the brand's focus on speed and smooth performance. Other notable premium launches included the Vivo X300 Pro, the Xiaomi 15, and the Oppo Find X9.
Mid-Range and Budget Powerhouses
The fiercely competitive mid-range and budget segments saw even more action, offering premium features at accessible price points. Xiaomi's Redmi sub-brand launched the Redmi Note 14 5G and the REDMI 15 series, including the REDMI 15C 5G. Motorola expanded its portfolio with the Moto G96 5G and the Edge 60 Pro.
iQOO had a prolific year with multiple launches such as the iQOO 15, iQOO Neo 10 5G, and the iQOO Z10 5G series. The OnePlus Nord line saw updates with the Nord 5 and Nord CE 5. Other significant releases included the Vivo V50 series, Vivo X200 FE 5G, Oppo Reno14 5G, Poco X7 Pro, and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. CMF by Nothing also entered the fray with the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
A Year of Intense Competition and Innovation
The sheer volume and diversity of launches in 2025 highlight the strategic importance of the Indian market for global smartphone players. The year was characterized by several key trends:
- Foldable Evolution: Samsung's latest Z Fold and Z Flip models aimed to make the foldable form factor more mainstream.
- AI Integration: Phones like the Google Pixel 10 series pushed the boundaries of artificial intelligence in photography and user experience.
- Segment Blurring: Features once reserved for flagships, like high-refresh-rate displays and powerful processors, trickled down to budget phones.
This intense competition ultimately benefited Indian consumers, who were presented with an array of feature-packed devices across every budget. The data for this year-ender was officially published on 29 December 2025. As the year closes, the stage is set for an even more innovative and competitive 2026 in the world's second-largest smartphone market.
