AIMRA-Techarc India Smartphone Retailer Pulse July 2026

Key takeaways

• →61.3% of retailers report fewer units sold in H1 2026 vs H1 2025, while only 39.3% report lower rupee turnover — the core affordability signal of the study.
• →49.0% describe H1 2026 business as declined; only 21.6% report growth.
• →50.0% are worried about the festive season vs 2025; only 26.6% are confident, and 47.4% expect the half to decline outright.
• →80.9% expect Base and Mid price segments (₹10,000–₹30,000) to bear the most pressure in the second half of 2026.
• →14.0% of retailers see a real risk of not remaining operational through December 2026; a further 34.1% are unsure.
• →53% name a cut in GST on smartphones as their top ask of government.
• →The study spans 1,126 verified retailer responses across 22 States and Union Territories and 7 languages, gathered anonymously.