Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Why India Has Become a Premium Market for Apple
India’s average income is much lower than the price of Apple’s most expensive phones.
However, India has a large group of wealthy people who can afford premium products.
Many other consumers also want expensive phones because they represent quality and status.
Credit cards and monthly payment plans let people spread the cost over time.
This means buyers do not always need to pay the full price at once.
In 2025, phone sales grew only slightly by quantity, but the total value of phones sold increased more quickly.
Premium phones are also becoming more popular in smaller cities and towns.
Apple therefore does not need every Indian to afford an iPhone for India to be a major market.
India’s average annual per capita income is about $2,813, while the iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900.
Apple is targeting India’s affluent and aspirational consumers rather than the average consumer.
India’s smartphone market grew about 1% in unit shipments in 2025, but its value increased roughly 8%.
Apple’s shipments rose around 28%, giving it approximately 28% of India’s smartphone market by value.
EMIs, credit cards and digital payments are making premium smartphones more accessible beyond wealthy metropolitan consumers.
- Who
- Apple, affluent Indian consumers and aspirational smartphone buyers.
- What
- India has become a significant premium market for Apple despite relatively low average income, aided by wealth concentration and consumer financing.
- When
- The article cites smartphone data from 2022, 2024 and 2025, with financing potentially rising further in 2026.
- Where
- India, including major metropolitan areas and smaller cities and towns.
- Why
- A large affluent population, rising interest in premium products, and access to EMIs and other credit options are expanding demand for expensive smartphones.
- India’s per capita income
- About $2,813, or approximately ₹2.33 lakh annually.
- iPhone 18 Pro starting price
- ₹1,64,900.
- iPhone Duo price
- Up to ₹4,49,900.
- Affluent consumers
- India has around 60 million affluent consumers, according to figures cited in the article.
- Top-income concentration
- The top 10% of Indian households account for roughly 58% of national income.
- Apple shipment growth
- Apple’s shipments rose by approximately 28% in 2025.
- Financing share
- Financing represented about 35% of smartphone purchases in 2025 and could reach approximately 42% in 2026.