How do you define the term “Smart Phone”? Well, some people might know the answer, but if you don’t know, no need to google it on your smartphone, because that definition is no longer valid. Now a smartphone is a device which we are most attached to in our lives. Year by year, people using smartphones are getting increased, along with number of companies that are entering into this business. Specially in a country like India, smart phones and tablets are getting popular day by day.

In this essay I will try to address the trends we’ve seen this year and what we can expect in future.

Market Analysis – 2015

Shipments worldwide

According to IDC, the worldwide smart phone market saw 13% hike in second quarter of 2015, compared to previous year’s Q2. Around 341.5 million smart phone shipments done world wide.

[Image Source:IDC]

According to above statistics, top companies this year are Samsung (with 21.4% market share), Apple (with 13.9% market share), Huawei (with 4.7% market share), Xiaomi (with 5.6% market share), Lenovo (with 4.7% market share) and Other companies occupied 45.7% in the worldwide smart phone market. Android OS dominated smartphone market with 82.8% share.

Shipments in India

Coming to India, we saw similar picture in sales.

According to Analysis by IDC on Indian market, 26.5 million smartphones were shipped in the second quarter of this year to India, which was 44% hike from last year Q2, which was 18.4 million units. Compared to first quarter of 2015, this is 19% growth. In complete year 2015, we had 59.4 million units which is 6% decrease from last year 2014, which had seen 63.2 million shipments.

[Image Source: IDC]

According to IDC, top companies in India in terms of sales are Samsung, Micromax, Intex, Lava and Lenovo. Being a foreign company, Korean tech giant Samsung was able to continue holding first place in Indian smartphone market with 41.6% market share by value, according to Economic Times. While Samsung could continue its first place in Indian smartphone market, there was a tough competition between Micromax and Intex for second position this year.

Factors influencing Smartphone market growth

Especially in India, we’ve seen technology reaching more and more people. Initiatives like Digital India, MakeInIndia by Indian Government made companies like Lava and others to establish plants in India to manufacture more smartphone units. Technology companies like Google and Facebook also concentrating on India as they could see a huge consumer base and opportunities. Initiatives like Internet.org by Facebook and Android One by Google helping technology more affordable by large people.

Online vs Offline Markets

Pricebaba, an online platform suggests best deals on tech gadgets, conducted a study in September on prices of top 150 smartphones comparing both online and offline markets.

[Number Source:Pricebaba]

According to that study, out of top 150 phones, 94 products were cheaper online and 56 products cheaper offline. Analyzing further, out of 94 products selling online, 20 products are cheap on Amazon, 23 products are cheap on Flipkart and 51 products are cheaper on Snapdeal considering lowest price for each of the phone.

Out of 56 phones which were sold offline, considering lowest local price for a phone, 25 products are cheapest in Mumbai, 19 products are cheapest in Bangalore and 12 products are cheapest on Delhi.

This study itself shows that how ecommerce changing the face of India especially growth in sales of smartphones comparing offline stores. People started using online stores as they are delivering product fast with desired quality. Some company products like Apple doesn’t have local stores in India so, if you want to buy them, you have to depend on e-commerce website.

Good Phones are getting Cheap, and Cheap Phones are getting good

This year also witnessed revolution in Smart Phones where prices of mobiles are decreasing with improved features. Companies are targeting to sell more number of phones to improve their shares in the market. Many companies like OnePlus, Motoroala, Lava, Gionee, Micromax, Samsung are building products which fall in below 15k price range making them available for average consumers. Especially large chunk of people from India do not want to change their mobile more often, and want to have best features with lowest price possible.

[Image Source : Economic Times]

Recently, one of the India’s popular e-commerce website Flipkart shared their future moves with YourStory . According to that, their purchase data reveals that Indian smartphone market has greater demand for phones falling in 7k-12k price bracket. This is the reason why The Lenovo-Motorola combine has surged into the top 5 among smartphone vendors in India. The success of Micromax canvas spark which came out earlier this year proves that there is a lot of scope for sub- 100$ phones in India.

The success of Samsung this year also proves the same thing. While building high end flagships in the lines of Galaxy and Note series, the company also producing various variants in 10-15 k price range. That is why this company became favorite of average consumers as well as rich people. On the other hand, Apple, even though stood in second position worldwide with their iPhone 6s , 6s plus and iPad Pro, couldn’t make a mark in Indian super market. It doesn’t have a single store in India yet, also their phones are grapes in the sky for many people.

What we can expect in 2016?

According to a study, only 20% of people in India have access to Internet and only 14% of people own a smartphone. This statistic itself is a proof that there is a lot of scope for Smartphone business in India. As I said earlier, this customer base is attracting tech giants and even every Chinese mobile manufacturing company is entering into Indian smartphone market to test their fortune. This year itself, we have seen couple of new Chinese phone companies entering into Indian smartphone market and it will continue to attract vendors from all over the world for next couple of years.

In coming years, we can expect more cheaper phones with added features like 4G, flagships with more processing power, great displays hardware specs, and good battery backup.

In one word, 2016 would bring technology even closer to our lives.