The 4G <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/business/business-news/article/indias-smartphone-market-demand-declines-10-per-cent-in-june-quarter-the-biggest-in-six-years--23640240" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">smartphone market in the country</a> is showing signs of recovery in 2026, with shipments set to grow 3 per cent over last year, reported news agency PTI.
According to the Counterpoint Research, the 4G smartphone market is set to rebound from a 48 per cent drop suffered in 2025.
"4G smartphone shipments in India are expected to grow 3 per cent YoY in 2026 despite a decline in the overall market, with 4G share rising to 13 per cent in 2026 from 11 per cent in 2025," Counterpoint Research said.
The 4G smartphones share in the overall market is expected to rise to an estimated 15 per cent in 2027. This is because the higher input costs has widened the price gap between 4G and 5G devices, making <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/tech/gadgets/article/pova-8-5g-review-can-it-challenge-the-best-smartphones-under-rs-30000-23635589" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">5G smartphones</a> more expensive for consumers.
<h2>Costlier 5G smartphones prompting OEMs to expand 4G portfolio</h2>
It noted that the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are expanding their 4G portfolios into the Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 segment to cater to this demand, as 5G models move up the price ladder.
"India's 4G recovery is increasingly extending beyond the traditional entry-level segment, with demand gaining momentum across the sub-Rs 20,000 price range. The Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 segment is emerging as a key growth area as consumers seek better specifications and device experiences without the higher price associated with 5G," &nbsp;Senior Analyst Prachir Singh said.
The wider portfolio is positioning 4G as a broader value proposition, offering consumers a balance of price, specifications and performance as rising costs push 5G smartphones into higher price bands, Singh added.
The number of OEMs offering 4G models in the budget price band has increased from just two in 2025 to 12 in 2026 so far.
<h2>4G to shift from entry-level connectivity to a broader value proposition</h2>
With inflationary pressures expected to continue, Counterpoint Research estimates this shift towards 4G smartphone to sustain.
"This growth reflects a broader shift in the role of 4G, rather than simply a short-term response to higher smartphone prices, as <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/business/telecom/article/india-smartphone-market-sees-weakest-q1-in-years-as-rising-costs-hit-demand-23628994" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">component prices</a> are unlikely to normalise soon. As consumers increasingly weigh specifications against price, 4G is gaining relevance beyond the entry-level segment, particularly in the sub-Rs 20,000 range," Research Director Tarun Pathak said.
Pathak added: "We expect this broader price-value positioning to support continued 4G demand, while encouraging OEMs to expand their portfolios with more capable 4G devices. This could mark a shift in how 4G is positioned in India, from an entry-level connectivity choice to a broader value proposition."&nbsp;
(With inputs from PTI)

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4G smartphone shipments in India are expected to grow 3 per cent YoY in 2026 despite a decline in the overall market, with 4G market share rising to 13 per cent in 2026 from 11 per cent in 2025

India's 4G smartphone shipments to grow 3 per cent; market share to rise to 13 per cent in 2026

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