A significant shift is underway in the US smartphone market, with ‘Made in India’ phones experiencing unprecedented demand. This trend is largely driven by the trade tensions between China and the US, which have significantly boosted exports of Indian-manufactured smartphones. The period between 2024 and 2025 witnessed a sharp decline in the proportion of smartphones imported from China, falling from 61% to just 25%.
This surge in demand for Indian-made smartphones has translated into a remarkable 240% annual growth in deliveries to the US market. Currently, smartphones made in India represent 44% of all imports into the US, a substantial increase from the previous year’s 13%.
Apple’s strategic shift from Chinese to Indian manufacturing is the major factor behind this change. According to Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia, Apple produced the most smartphones in India for the US market during the second quarter of 2025. This marks the first time India has served as the largest manufacturing hub for Apple products destined for the US. Apple has already begun manufacturing the iPhone 16 series Pro models in India. Despite reliance on China for certain high-end models, India’s role continues to expand.
Samsung and Motorola are also contributing to this shift by increasing their supplies from India, although their production volumes are currently smaller than Apple’s. Motorola still has a significant manufacturing presence in China, while Samsung depends on Vietnam. Looking ahead, Apple plans to double its production capacity in India. Reports suggest that the company aims to export 80 million iPhones from India to the US by 2026. This expansion requires an acceleration of manufacturing operations. India is evolving into a global leader in smartphone manufacturing and IT, and the participation of companies like Apple promises further growth in this sector.
