“I am over the moon excited about India,” says Tim Cook as Apple looks beyond the iPhone for growth
Apple is doubling down on India, with the country emerging as a key growth engine across product categories, from iPhones to Macs and iPads, according to comments from CEO Tim Cook during the company’s latest earnings call. Cook flagged India as part of a broader surge in emerging markets, where Apple recorded double-digit growth. “We grew double digits in nearly every emerging market we track, including India,” he said, adding that the company also recently opened its sixth retail store in the country—underscoring a deeper push to expand its physical and brand presence.The momentum is being driven in large part by the iPhone. Apple reported $57 billion in iPhone revenue for the quarter, up 22% year-on-year, with growth spanning most major markets—including India. The performance was powered by the latest iPhone lineup, which continues to find traction among first-time buyers.That “new user” dynamic is central to Apple’s India strategy. Cook highlighted that a majority of customers across categories—iPhone, Mac, iPad and even Apple Watch—are new to those products in markets like India. This suggests Apple is not just upgrading existing users but actively expanding its installed base.India’s broader economic shifts are playing into that. Cook pointed to the country’s growing middle class as a structural tailwind. “It’s the second largest smartphone market in the world and the third largest PC market,” he said, noting that Apple still holds a relatively modest share—leaving significant headroom for growth. “Net-net, I’m over the moon excited about India,” he added.Beyond smartphones, Apple is also seeing traction in computing. Mac revenue rose 6% year-on-year to $8.4 billion, with double-digit growth in several emerging markets, including India. Recent product launches—particularly the MacBook Neo—are helping drive demand, especially in enterprise and education segments.India is already showing early signs of that shift. Enterprise software firm Freshworks, for instance, has deployed over 5,000 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air devices to support its AI development efforts, signalling growing acceptance of Apple hardware in corporate environments.The iPad business is also benefiting from emerging market demand. Apple said over half of iPad buyers during the quarter were new to the product, with double-digit growth in markets including India. This again points to expanding adoption rather than replacement cycles.Apple’s India story is no longer peripheral. It sits at the intersection of rising incomes, first-time tech adoption, and a still-untapped premium market.
