Data shows Xiaomi are now kings of the Indian smartphone market, Samsung refutes claims

Xiaomi had a phenomenal 2017. The company, just about seven years old now, kicked the year off with the Redmi Note 4, a device that shattered sales records globally, due to its high performance to price ratio. Not content to rest on its laurels, the company released the Android One Mi A1, with the device quickly becoming a fan favorite. Both the Mi A1 and Redmi Note 4 were featured on our value smartphone list for 2017. 

Perhaps due to these devices—and a number of other high bang-for-buck offerings by Xiaomi—the company got within touching distance of Samsung in Q3. Reports by analytic firms Canalys and Counterpoint Research have confirmed that the Chinese company now leads the Indian market. Canalys reports claims that Xiaomi recorded a total of 8.2 million shipments in Q3, staking claim to 27% of the market, while Samsung came in second with 7.3 million shipments and a 25% market share. Counterpoint's figures are also similar, as their report has Xiaomi as boasting of 25% of the Indian market, and Samsung with 23%. 

While the data favors Xiaomi,  Samsung has quickly refuted those claims, stating that it still leads the pack "by a distance". According to a company rep, Samsung boasts of a 45% value market share and 40% volume market share. Samsung India VP Asim Warsi backs up that statement with data from German analytic firm GfK, stating that shipment figures don't tell the whole story, as a percentage of company shipments may not get to end users but end up on store shelfs. A fair point, of course, but one we believe will not hold water for long. It's indubitable that Xiaomi is making major moves in the market. Samsung, on the other, focuses on its premium line. In a battle of value for money—the greatest USP in the Indian market—there's only one winner.

It's not Samsung.