India smartphone shipments dropped to a six-year low in the first quarter, according to Counterpoint Research, with price hikes identified as the primary demand suppressant. The decline marks a significant reversal for one of the world's largest and most watched handset markets, where volume growth had been a reliable narrative for global manufacturers and investors. Rising average selling prices have compressed the addressable base at the entry and mid-tier segments, where the bulk of Indian consumers historically participate. Brands heavily exposed to volume-driven strategies in India face margin and inventory pressure as the demand curve shifts. Counterpoint's data will likely prompt reassessment of near-term shipment forecasts by vendors including Xiaomi, Samsung, and domestic players. The next critical signal is whether Q2 shows sequential recovery driven by seasonal demand or whether price-driven demand destruction persists into the second half of the year.
Apple has raised MacBook and iPad prices in India by 20% to 42%, citing a sharp surge in memory chip costs driven by AI data centre demand. Micron, the leading memory supplier, reported 86% gross margins, confirming that supply pressures have fundamentally shifted component pricing across the consumer electronics
India's central government will take a 1-2% stake in AI unicorn Sarvam once its $300 million funding round closes, converting compute subsidies provided under the IndiaAI Mission into equity. The move sets a precedent for how the government accounts for public support given to homegrown AI startups.
Apple announced iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, featuring a redesigned Siri as a standalone app with chat history, apps launching up to 30 percent faster, and a refined Liquid Glass interface. A developer preview is live now, with public release expected around September 2026.
Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote unveiled a fully redesigned Siri and confirmed iOS 27 alongside updates for iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and macOS. The Siri overhaul is the most strategically significant move, targeting a competitive gap with Google and Microsoft in AI assistants.
