Tim Cook Thrilled by India’s Growth: iPhone Sales Skyrocket

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated he is “over the moon” regarding India, as the technology giant reported strong double-digit growth across most product categories in the country for the March quarter. Cook described India as a “huge opportunity” for Apple, noting that despite significant success, the company still holds a modest market share, underscoring the potential for further expansion.

Apple has been actively increasing its presence in India, bolstered by the opening of its retail stores, an expanding manufacturing base, and greater localization efforts. The company sees substantial room for growth as it broadens its reach and strengthens its ecosystem within the nation. Cook pointed to the growing middle class as a key driver, with many new customers entering the Apple ecosystem across various product lines.

Globally, Apple’s installed base of active devices surpassed 2.5 billion by the end of the March quarter, reflecting its expanding global footprint. The company reported a total revenue of $111.2 billion for the quarter, a 17% increase year-over-year, exceeding its guidance. This growth was seen across all geographic segments.

The iPhone continues to be a primary revenue driver, generating $57 billion in sales, up 21.7% year-on-year. Strong demand for the iPhone 17 family, including the recently launched iPhone 17e, contributed significantly to this performance. Cook noted that the iPhone 17 family has become the most popular lineup at launch in the company’s history, despite facing supply constraints, particularly for advanced semiconductor nodes.

Supply limitations also affected Mac models, though revenue for Macs rose 6% year-over-year to $8.4 billion. Apple’s CFO mentioned that Freshworks deployed over 5,000 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air devices in India. iPad revenue increased by 8%, with a significant portion of buyers being new to the product, especially in emerging markets. The Wearables, Home, and Accessories segment grew 5% to $7.9 billion, with over half of Apple Watch buyers being new to the product.

Services have become a significant contributor to Apple’s revenue, now accounting for over a quarter of the total and growing 16% to an all-time record of $31 billion. The company plans to expand its advertising business by introducing ads on Apple Maps in the US and Canada later this year.

Regarding artificial intelligence, Apple is integrating AI into its ecosystem under the brand “Apple Intelligence,” with a strong emphasis on privacy. While acknowledging the competitive landscape and perception of lagging behind rivals, Apple stated it is making significant investments in AI. Research and development spending increased by 33% year-over-year to $11.4 billion. Apple has entered a multi-year partnership with Google to utilize Gemini models for its revamped Siri, expected in late 2026. Cook expressed satisfaction with both independent development and the collaboration with Google.

Looking ahead, Apple anticipates total company revenue to grow between 14% and 17% year-over-year for the June quarter, factoring in supply constraints. Services revenue is expected to maintain a similar growth rate. The company is also preparing for its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, where new software and AI advancements are anticipated.

Apple is also set for a leadership transition later this year, with Tim Cook moving to the role of executive chairman and John Ternus becoming the new CEO.