Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

Report: OnePlus Nord is now the top mid-range phone in India

Samsung and BBK's brands continue to record growth in India's fierce smartphone market.
By
October 29, 2020
OnePlus Nord back side hero shot lit
Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • According to a Counterpoint report, India’s smartphone market just hit a record quarterly high.
  • The industry was buoyed by the likes of Samsung, OPPO, and OnePlus.
  • The OnePlus Nord is now the best-selling device in the upper mid-tier segment.

Smartphone makers probably won’t consider 2020 a good sales year, but there are now signs of recovery in some regions and for some OEMs. According to research from Counterpoint, India’s smartphone market recovered to record quarterly shipments in Q3 2020.

53 million units were shipped in Q3 2020 in India, up by 9% year-over-year. This growth wasn’t driven by demand for flagships, though. The Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 (~$135 to $270) sector recorded its highest growth and highest market share in the quarter.

Users willing to spend a little more are also grabbing one device in particular. The OnePlus Nord is now the best-selling phone in the Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000 (~$270-$400) segment, per the report. The firm also anchored its position as the top marque in the “affordable premium segment” with the OnePlus 8.

Xiaomi vs Samsung in India

As for the overall picture, two firms rule the roost: Xiaomi and Samsung. Counterpoint suggests Xiaomi lost its title as India’s top smartphone OEM in Q3 2020. It now owns 23% of the market, down from 26% year-over-year. Samsung takes its place by a sliver, jumping from a 20% market share in Q3 2019 to 24% in Q3 2020. Overall, the Korean firm saw a 32% year-over-year growth spurt in India, while Xiaomi saw a 4% decline.

Notably, Canalys disputes this claim. Its recent research points to Xiaomi retaining its top spot by some margin in Q3 2020 with a 26% market share. Samsung lags behind by a 6% margin.

Finally, the other BBK firms also saw growth across the board according to Counterpoint. vivo grew by 4% year-over-year and remained the third biggest smartphone brand in India. realme saw a 52% increase year-over-year in the mid-tier reportedly driven by the realme 6 and realme 7 lines. Lastly, OPPO recorded a 30% year-over-year increase of shipments in India, largely buoyed by demand for its budget devices.

It’s unclear if industry growth – and growth for Samsung – will continue in the next quarter. Considering that 2019 ended with Chinese brands amassing huge growth in India, it’ll be a challenge for the Korean firm to hold its top spot going into 2021.

Read more: The best Android phones you can buy in India