Experts: Apple Had A Great Year In India Last Year, But Even Better Ahead

Apple saw an outstanding performance in the Indian market in 2019 and is expected to undergo another success in the country this year thanks to the future opening of Apple's first retail store later this year and its strongest product portfolio yet.


In terms of iPhone sales, Apple may not have had a solid start last year. But as far as the Indian market is concerned, Apple has done pretty well overall. This is due to various factors, including the attractive pricing cut of the previous generation iPhone models (iPhone XR), the iPhone 11 series includes a more affordable flagship product, and other products introduced a series of charming plans. In addition to the iPhone, devices such as Apple Watch, AirPods Pro and Mac desktops have also witnessed huge growth in the Indian market.

All this designates that Apple seems to have heard its critics, and people are beginning to trust the brand again. In this regard, experts said recently that 2020 will be the key to Apple's rise in the Indian market. Industry specialists believe that the vigorous production of high-end iPhones in the local region and the opening of the first Apple Store will give the Cupertino, California-based company a robust impetus in the relatively price-sensitive Indian smartphone market.

Speaking of Apple Stores, news surfaced last October that Apple had selected to open its first Apple retail store in India at the Maker Maxity Shopping Center in Mumbai. People familiar with the matter said that Apple has rented about 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of space in the mall, spread over three floors and that the retail store is expected to open in September 2020.

Tarun Pathak, an executive at research firm Counterpoint Research says that Apple has recovered in the Indian market in 2019 after a significant decline in 2018. 2020 will be an important year because Apple this year the company has the strongest product portfolio ever, including the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and iPhone 8. Besides, analysts have speculated that the iPhone SE 2 will also be released this year.

Data showed that in the third quarter of 2019, Apple's share in the $700-$850 market segments reached 51.3%, ranking first in the high-end smartphone market. Counterpoint Research predicts that this year is likely to be Apple's strongest year in India, with a record performance.

We have also heard reports claiming that Apple may even launch two iPhone SE 2 models, one with a 5.5-inch screen and the other with a 6.1-inch screen. Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said that there may be a second iPhone SE 2, called "iPhone SE 2 Plus", but he believes that this product may not be launched until the first half of 2021.

Key Apple supplier Wistron initially assembled the iPhone SE (an older model, which has been discontinued) in India, and is currently assembling the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 at its Bengaluru plant. At the same time, the iPhone XR (the most popular iPhone model in the Indian market) is being produced at Apple's Foxconn plant in Chennai.

Upasana Joshi, an executive at the authoritative research firm IDC India, advises Apple that for the Indian market, they should continue to focus on the $700 and $850 market segments, as he believes this is the "sweet spot" for the iPhone in India.

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