(Image source from: Reuters.com)
In the days leading up to the eagerly awaited global release of the brand-new iPhone 17 series, Apple has achieved another significant accomplishment. According to a report from Bloomberg, the maker of the iPhone saw sales exceeding $9 billion in India during the previous fiscal year. A large portion of these sales came from the leading iPhone, which represents 7 percent of the smartphone market in India, based on data from Counterpoint Research. Additionally, the demand for Macbooks in India has seen a considerable increase, according to the same report. Apple's earnings reportedly grew by 13 percent in the 12 months starting in March 2024, compared to $8 billion in sales from the previous year in India. This rise in earnings indicates that the interest in Apple’s top products is increasing, even as the technology giant from Cupertino aims to expand its presence in India, which could become a crucial market for Apple in the near future.
This development comes at a time when Apple is facing stagnant mobile device sales in other regions, especially in China, where it is said to have lost ground to local competitors like Xiaomi amid geopolitical tensions. Apple’s earnings from China rose by 4.4 percent in the quarter ending June 2025, after a decline of two years. Meanwhile, its earnings in India have increased 1.5 times over the past three years. India has also become essential to Apple’s manufacturing efforts, with one in five iPhones now produced in the country. The tech giant is expanding iPhone manufacturing across five factories, including newly opened ones in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is also anticipated that all four models of the upcoming iPhone 17 will be produced in India. Apple’s retail approach focuses on providing thorough customer assistance at various touchpoints. Recently, the company opened two new stores in Bengaluru and Pune. Recognizing that many Indian customers may be experiencing its products for the first time, Wendy Beckman, VP of Apple Retail, shared with indianexpress.com that “this is a really good introduction to the ecosystem and everything with our products too.”
The store offers hands-on experiences where “people can interact and have the chance to discover and explore our products with support from our teams,” she added. Apple launched its first online store in India in 2020 after navigating challenges linked to local sourcing rules. In 2023, CEO Tim Cook opened the first two physical retail stores in India, one in Mumbai and the other in New Delhi. The company is also reportedly making plans to open a new store in Noida and a second location in Mumbai sometime next year.
