Motorola has successfully carved out a niche for itself in India’s highly competitive mid-premium smartphone market by offering feature-packed devices with a strong price-to-performance ratio. Despite the presence of several well-established brands in the Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 segment, Motorola has managed to stand out by focusing on refined design, premium materials, and well-balanced specifications. However, while brands such as Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi continue to introduce ultra-premium flagship devices powered by cutting-edge chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Elite, Motorola has yet to make a move into this high-end flagship space.
In an exclusive interview with India Today Tech, Shivam Ranjan, Head of Marketing at Motorola India, explained the company’s strategy regarding flagship smartphones. He stated that Motorola maintains close partnerships with leading chipset manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek, ensuring that its devices are powered by the latest processors suited for different price segments. However, he emphasized that launching a true high-end flagship will depend on market demand. If there is sufficient consumer interest in a Motorola device featuring a top-tier chipset, the company will carefully evaluate the possibility of introducing such a product. This suggests that while Motorola is not ruling out the idea of an ultra-premium flagship, it remains focused on delivering value-driven devices in price segments where demand is already strong.
At present, Motorola’s primary focus is expanding its footprint in the mid-premium category, where it has achieved notable growth. Ranjan revealed that the company currently holds an estimated 8 percent market share in India and has climbed to the sixth or seventh position in overall smartphone rankings. This marks a remarkable turnaround for Motorola, considering that just two years ago, the brand was not even in the top 10. Citing IDC’s 2024 India market share report, Ranjan noted that Motorola witnessed a staggering 135 percent increase in market share between 2023 and 2024. This rapid growth highlights the brand’s successful strategy of offering stylish, well-built smartphones with competitive specifications at accessible price points.
Looking ahead, Motorola has set an ambitious goal of becoming India’s third-largest smartphone brand by the end of 2025. Ranjan expressed confidence that this target is achievable, as the gap between Motorola and the top three smartphone brands in India has been steadily narrowing. He attributed this progress to Motorola’s commitment to innovation, strong partnerships, and an aggressive product launch strategy. One key aspect of the company’s approach is maintaining a distinct yet recognizable design language across its Moto Edge series. Motorola has focused on using premium materials such as vegan leather, pearl finishes, and wooden back panels to differentiate its devices while ensuring consistency in branding. Addressing concerns that some consumers might find Motorola’s designs too uniform across models, Ranjan argued that this consistency enhances brand recognition. He explained that Motorola wants its users to feel a sense of pride in owning a Moto device while also making the brand easily identifiable to others.
Discussing the latest addition to the company’s lineup, Ranjan highlighted the Moto Edge 60 Fusion as a well-rounded smartphone that offers a refined experience without solely chasing performance benchmarks. He outlined some of its key features, including a 1.5K curved display for an immersive viewing experience, the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, a luxurious leather back panel, a slim and lightweight design with military-grade certification for durability, a long-lasting 5,500mAh battery, and a versatile 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup. According to Ranjan, the Edge 60 Fusion is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of users looking for a premium experience without having to spend excessively on flagship-tier hardware.
When asked about Motorola’s upcoming launches, Ranjan refrained from sharing specific details but hinted that the company’s release cycle is expected to follow a pattern similar to last year. With the Moto Edge 60 Fusion already introduced, Motorola is yet to unveil the Moto Edge 60 Pro, Edge 60 Ultra, and the standard Edge 60. Leaks have already surfaced regarding the Edge 60 Pro, suggesting that it could be the next device in line for launch. Given that its predecessor, the Edge 50 Pro, was launched in April 2024, it is likely that Motorola will introduce the Edge 60 Pro in the coming weeks.
Motorola’s steady growth in India’s competitive smartphone market underscores its ability to adapt to evolving consumer preferences. By focusing on a mix of premium design, balanced performance, and affordability, the company has positioned itself as a strong contender in the mid-premium segment. While the prospect of an ultra-high-end Motorola flagship remains uncertain, the brand’s ongoing success suggests that it will continue to expand its presence and challenge dominant players in the Indian smartphone industry.
