New Delhi, April 13 -- Fewer Indians are buying smartphones.

The first three months of 2026 saw about $7.8 billion worth of phones sold - $500 million less than a year earlier - marking the slowest calendar-year start in five years.

In volume terms, the market shrank nearly 12% year-on-year, with about 28 million units sold in the quarter, down from 32 million a year earlier, according to a consensus of analysts Mint spoke with.

The decline in value was relatively narrower at 6%, as companies partially offset losses by raising prices in February and March.

India smartphone market was flat in 2025 with a 0.6% annual growth by volume totalling 152 million units.

Worryingly for the industry, this is the first time in recent years that s...