India overtakes China as top US smartphone supplier, powered by Apple’s manufacturing shift

India has emerged as the leading exporter of smartphones to the United States for the first time, surpassing China, thanks to a sharp rise in Apple’s manufacturing activity in the country. According to a recent report by research firm Canalys (part of Omdia), India accounted for 44% of all smartphone imports into the US during the second quarter of 2025, a massive leap from just 13% during the same period last year. In contrast, China’s share fell dramatically from 61% to 25%.

Also Read:‘Honeymoon in Shillong’: Film announced on  Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder, wife among accused

This shift is largely attributed to Apple’s ongoing effort to diversify its production footprint amidst escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. India has become a preferred location for assembling standard iPhone models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, and even some units of the iPhone 16 Pro. Though Apple still relies on Chinese facilities for large-scale Pro production, the balance is clearly moving toward India.

Other companies like Samsung and Motorola have also increased exports from their Indian plants to the US, though their overall impact remains comparatively modest. Samsung, for example, continues to depend primarily on its Vietnamese factories, while Motorola’s supply chain remains mostly China-centric, despite recent gains in Indian output.

This development is part of a larger global trend where electronics manufacturers are reevaluating their sourcing strategies in response to geopolitical uncertainties and tariff risks. Analysts say that many smartphone brands are advancing procurement and adapting to a more flexible, decentralized production model. India’s expanding capacity to produce high-end devices not just budget models, is solidifying its place as a critical player in the global smartphone supply chain.

Despite these major supply chain realignments, the US smartphone market showed only modest growth, increasing just 1% in Q2 2025. Apple saw an 11% drop in US shipments, while Samsung enjoyed a 38% rise. Motorola, Google, and TCL made up the remainder of the top five smartphone brands in the country.