Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Apple is set to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, with the event drawing particular attention as it marks the first major iPhone launch under the leadership of the company’s new CEO, John Ternus. While Apple is not the top smartphone seller in India by volume, its revenue share tells a very different story.
According to a report, Vivo led India’s smartphone market in the first quarter of 2026 with a 19.6% unit share, followed by Samsung at 17.1% and Oppo at 15.3%. Apple stood fourth with around 9.4% of smartphone shipments.
In other words, out of every 100 smartphones sold in India, only around nine were iPhones. However, Apple’s share of the total revenue generated by those 100 smartphones was estimated at nearly 28%.
Premium iPhones Drive Higher Revenue
The biggest reason behind this difference is Apple’s premium pricing strategy. Unlike manufacturers that sell smartphones across a wide range of price segments, Apple focuses heavily on the premium market.
This means the company can generate substantially more revenue from each device it sells. Even with a smaller share of total shipments, the higher average selling price of iPhones allows Apple to capture a much larger portion of the industry's overall revenue.
Apple’s Business Goes Beyond iPhone Sales
The iPhone is also only the starting point of Apple’s relationship with its customers. Once a consumer enters the Apple ecosystem, the company has several opportunities to generate recurring revenue.
Customers may pay for additional iCloud storage, subscribe to Apple Music, or use Apple TV for entertainment. These services generate payments on a monthly or annual basis, extending the revenue opportunity well beyond the initial iPhone purchase.
Why Apple Doesn’t Need to Be No. 1 in Shipments
For many smartphone manufacturers, selling a larger number of devices is central to growing revenue. Apple follows a different approach, focusing on higher-value products and long-term customer spending.
The gap between Apple’s 9.4% shipment share and its nearly 28% revenue share highlights the strength of this strategy. The company may not sell the highest number of smartphones in India, but it earns a disproportionately large share of the money spent on them.
With the iPhone 18 Pro launch, attention will once again be on Apple’s premium strategy and its ability to turn a relatively smaller customer base into a significant revenue stream.
