Apple's iPhone 16 has maintained its position as the best-selling iPhone in India for the second straight quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. Even with the hype around the premium iPhone 16 Pro and the newly launched iPhone 17 lineup, it's the standard iPhone 16 that continues to win buyers, thanks to its strong performance-to-price ratio. The trend highlights how Indian consumers still prioritise value over premium upgrades.
Counterpoint's latest report shows that the iPhone 16 was Apple's top-shipped model in India during the September quarter, fuelled by high demand not just in metro cities but also in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets. The phone was a star performer during Flipkart's Big Billion Days sale, where it ranked among the most purchased premium smartphones of the event. Its strong showing reflects Indian consumers' growing shift toward premium devices backed by festive discounts, bank offers, and easy EMI options.
Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Counterpoint Research told Mashable India, "This year iPhone line up is the widest and strongest lineup and driving growth for Apple. The channel expansion along with the product mix is attracting a lot of first time iPhone users. We expect this trend to continue as we move into 2026."
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He further added, "Apple is likely to grow in double digits in India for the next 2-3 years".
Globally, the iPhone 16 was also the best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025, marking the first time in two years that a base iPhone model returned to No. 1. The device performed especially well in Japan and the Middle East due to revised carrier subsidies and improved affordability, showing that Apple's entry-level flagship strategy continues to resonate in multiple regions.
In India, the iPhone 16 helped Apple hit its highest-ever quarterly revenue in September 2025. On the earnings call, CEO Tim Cook called India a "standout market," crediting festive demand, financing plans, and a growing retail footprint, including Apple's own stores, for the record momentum. Apple's deeper push into India, from sales to local manufacturing, is now a core pillar of its long-term strategy.
The iPhone 16's success comes as Apple briefly crossed the $4 trillion market cap milestone for the first time. Analysts say the brand's growth in India is now strategically critical, especially as the country becomes both a major sales engine and a key production base. Meanwhile, the broader Indian smartphone market saw vivo lead with 20% share, followed by Samsung at 13%, as major online and offline sales events helped brands clear inventory and build festive momentum, even with fewer overall product launches compared to last year.
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