Smartphone users in India 2019, by age group

According to a survey conducted by the Mobile Ecosystem Forum from November to December 2019, the highest penetration rate among smartphone users was in the age group of 16 to 24 years, with 37 percent. This was followed by the users between 24 and 35 years old. Older Indians surveyed had a lower penetration rate for smartphone usage.

 Baby boomers to millennials – smartphone addiction

Smartphones, once a status symbol has now become a common product in the country due to disposable incomes, faster lifestyle, and the necessity to stay connected. Also, an open operating system and low data rates have fueled this growth. In India, increased availability of content across various genres, regional languages, and communicating over social media and different applications led to an increased usage of smartphones.

Smartphone pricing in the country

The Indian smartphone market was dominated those that cost below 20,000 Indian rupees. This was evident from the share of the leading smartphone models in the country. Even though Apple dominated mobile markets worldwide, India had a different story. Though iPhones led in the premium segment, its share in the overall smartphone market remained near negligible. The smartphone market in the country was saturated with high competition, forcing companies to work on wafer-thin margins. Around 30 major smartphone brands were vying for their spotlight in the Indian smartphone market.