MediaTek, the Taiwanese smartphone chipmaker, has recently taken the lead over Qualcomm by capturing a majority share of the Indian 5G smartphone market, particularly in the sub-₹30,000 price segment. According to data from Counterpoint Research, MediaTek now holds 64% of this segment in the first half of 2024, a significant increase from 41% the previous year.
This rise of MediaTek is largely attributed to its competitive pricing strategy and strong partnerships with Chinese manufacturers, who dominate the budget smartphone market in India. In contrast, Qualcomm, which saw its market share decline to 31%, has focused more on premium devices, contributing to its downturn in this rapidly growing segment.
Analysts estimate that the Indian 5G smartphone market could reach between 50 to 52 million units shipped during this period, with around 75% of sales coming from models priced between ₹8,000 and ₹30,000. MediaTek has positioned itself as a key player in this space by offering advanced features at affordable prices, catering to a highly price-sensitive market.
Despite MediaTek’s dominance in the budget 5G smartphone segment, Qualcomm maintains a strong position in the premium smartphone sector, holding 35% of the market compared to MediaTek’s 14%. However, Qualcomm is seeking to regain ground in the budget smartphone market with the launch of its Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chip, aimed at devices priced below ₹10,000.
Conclusion
MediaTek is establishing itself as a leader in the affordable 5G smartphone market in India, while Qualcomm continues to focus on the premium segment. With the rapid growth of 5G smartphones in India, the dynamics between these two technology giants will be closely watched in the coming months.
